Revolution's Twellman is out indefinitely
FOXBOROUGH - The Revolution were struck with more bad news yesterday as the team announced that striker Taylor Twellman will be out indefinitely with concussion-related symptoms. The announcement comes with the playoffs set to begin tomorrow.
Twellman was injured Aug. 30 when he collided with Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin while heading in a goal. Cronin attempted to clear the ball and wound up punching Twellman on his right cheek, an injury that required stitches. Cronin broke his finger on the play, ending his season.
Twellman missed one game, then played in the last eight MLS matches. However, he continued to have occasional troubles from the injury, coach Steve Nicol said.
"After we played Colorado away [Sept. 20] he had some nausea and some headaches, and it's just kind of been he's OK and the next minute he's not feeling normal," Nicol said. "It's kind of come and gone since then to where we are now. It's not something you take a chance with."
In a statement, Revolution vice president of player personnel Michael Burns said, "Taylor has been experiencing some ongoing issues related to the concussion he suffered against LA. Concussions, especially repeated concussions, are very dangerous and the most important thing for Taylor and his future - both off the field and on - is to get the rest he needs so he can return to normal as quickly as possible."
Twellman's absence is just the latest injury problem for the team. A fractured right fibula ended midfielder Steve Ralston's season Oct. 11. In September, forward Adam Cristman's season was cut short by toe surgery.
The Revolution will face the Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference semifinals beginning tomorrow at Gillette Stadium in a two-game, total-goals series.
In a series where goals are important, the Revolution will be missing its primary contributors. Twellman, Ralston, and Cristman accounted for 22 of the team's 40 goals in MLS play. Twellman, 28, had eight.
Twellman has missed 14 games because of surgery on his right medial meniscus, an ankle sprain, and a hip flexor.
While Twellman was out, the Revolution found ways to win, with players like Kheli Dube and Kenny Mansally getting opportunities (the Revolution are 3-7-4 in MLS games with Twellman in the lineup and 9-4-3 when's he's out). But the makeup of the team was different, midfielder Jeff Larentowicz said.
"With Taylor being out, we have won games, and we hope to do that again, but there were other players in there like Steve Ralston and they're both out now," Larentowicz said.
"I think it is going to be different, but everybody is confident in themselves, and everybody knows they have a job to do. There is enough naiveté with the young guys that they can just go out there and play, regardless of whether it's the playoff game or not. They're just going to go out there with a clear mind and do the best they can."
The Revolution also will be without defender Gabriel Badilla and midfielder Khano Smith, who picked up red cards in a 3-1 loss to Kansas City Saturday. Each is suspended for Game 1 of the series.
With all of those players missing, the Revolution must take on a team that swept them during the regular season, outscoring them, 9-1.
"It's an opportunity now to deal with what we have and move on," Larentowicz said. "We'll come up with a game plan.
"With Taylor being out, it hurts us, along with Khano and Gabriel as well, but those are things we know ahead of time. Now we just have to deal with it."
Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com 