Veteran rejoins Blast for playoff run
Published on March 11, 2004 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Baltimore Blast News Release
Baltimore, MD â The Baltimore Blast announced today that defender Lance Johnson will return to the Blast lineup for the remainder of the 2003-04 MISL season. Johnson retired from professional play in April after the Blast won the 2003 MISL Championship.
"While we are very happy with the performance of our current roster, we are fortunate to be able to add a player of the caliber of Lance Johnson," Blast General Manager Kevin Healey said. "As our former team captain, it will be an easy adjustment to add Lance to our roster and he will give us additional speed, experience and a winning mentality."
Johnson began his professional indoor career in 1993 with the then-Baltimore Spirit and played the next 10 years in Baltimore. Johnson recorded 17 points and 53 blocks in 34 regular-season games last season and then recorded five points and 13 blocks in the five postseason games leading to Baltimore's 2003 MISL Championship. Despite his decision to leave the game at the end of last season, Johnson ranks first in franchise history in games played (367), blocks (484) and penalty minuets (194). He also ranks eighth in goals (105) and is tied for ninth in points (285). Johnson played in three League All-Star Games and was named First Team All-Rookie in his debut season. A graduate of Towson University, Johnson is also the franchise leader in postseason games played (31).
Since his retirement, Johnson has been working full time as a Commercial Loan Officer at 1st Mariner Bank. He will continue to work in that capacity while he plays for the Blast.
"I look forward contributing what I can to the team and the organization," Johnson said. "I am here to give some players the extra time needed to get healthy going into the playoffs."
To make room on the roster for Johnson, the Blast has suspended goalkeeper Karim Moumban for the remainder of the season. Moumban returned to Cameroon in early February to attend to a family matter and was not expected to return during the 2003-04 season.
The Blast (22-8, first place in the Eastern Division) has already clinched a 2004 MISL playoff berth. Baltimore will play its next four games on the road, starting with a 2 p.m. match against the Wave in Milwaukee on March 14. The team will return to 1st Mariner Arena for the last two games of the regular season on April 2 and April 3 against the Cleveland Force and Milwaukee Wave, respectively.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 11, 2004
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- KiXX ink defender Edgar Bartolomeu - Philadelphia KiXX
- MISL Injury Report - MISL 2
- Veteran rejoins Blast for playoff run - Baltimore Blast
- Force Signs Second Brazilian To Contract - Cleveland Force
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