MUSKEGON – There’s a chance that leading scorer Miguel Flores will be able to play on Friday when the Muskegon Risers host the undefeated Cleveland Crunch in a Major Arena Soccer League 2 playoff semifinal game.

Flores is nearing the end of his rehabilitation from an MCL sprain to his right knee, which has kept him out of action since the Risers last played Cleveland on March 5.

He has been walking and running without pain, but has not attempted lateral movement yet, which is obviously necessary in soccer.

Flores said he’s taking it day-by-day this week, and may very well suit up for the game, go through warmups and see how he feels before making a decision. He said he desperately wants to play, but does not want to be a liability to his team if he’s not ready to go.

The MASL 2 Final Four will be played at Muskegon’s Mercy Health Arena on Friday and Sunday. The San Diego Sockers will play the Omaha Kings at 4 p.m. on Friday in the first semifinal game, and the Risers will play Cleveland at 7 p.m.

The two semifinal winners will play for the league championship on Sunday at 3 p.m.

“There’s a possibility, but nothing guaranteed,” Flores told MuskegonSports.com. “It’s kind of a day-by-day thing. I have to just trust my body. If game time comes and I’m ready, then I’m ready. I would obviously test it in warmups before the game.

“I do my physical training tests on Wednesday, and that will give me a little more insight on how it’s looking for the game.”

Flores’ presence would be a major plus for the Risers, who will come into the league semifinal game as a decided underdog. The have lost all four games against the undefeated Crunch this season, which is probably why Cleveland, as the top playoff seed, chose to play Muskegon in the semifinals.

Flores, a former Muskegon High School and Muskegon Community College soccer star, was the leading goal scorer in the MASL 2 for most of the season, before he was injured in the next-to-last regular season game. He still finished tied for third in the league with 21 goals.

Flores’ injury occurred early in the second half of the last game against Cleveland, when his leg got tangled with another player’s leg, his knee popped and he fell to the turf in obvious pain.

“It was just a freak thing, a little fluke,” Flores said. “I was following through on a kick and my foot caught his in the back. It was a really awkward, random thing, and my knee just popped.”

The injury was diagnosed as a mild MCL sprain and Flores has been going through physical therapy since then.

“The first week I could hardly walk,” Flores said. “I’m running now, but I haven’t tried any side-to-side movements yet. That’s what I have to make sure about, that I’m in somewhat good shape in that area. If not I may have to pull the plug.

“My orthopedic doctor gave me the go-ahead to play and train with a brace, so more than likely it would be with a brace if I played.  I want to play, but it’s all up to my body. I just have to get ready this week and try it out and see how it is.”

The Risers demonstrated last Friday that they could win a big game without Flores or Ryan Zietlow, their second-leading scorer, who is out for the season with an injury. They beat the Chicago Mustangs in the first playoff game in team history 8-2, and earned a berth in the league semifinals.

Other players stepped up and provided the scoring punch the team needed, led by veterans Colin O’Keefe and Aldony Mendez with two goals apiece. Rookie goalie Akani Miyambu was spectacular in the net, holding Chicago scoreless in the first half.

Flores was at the game and said he was extremely proud of how his teammates pulled together and got the job done.

“They showed what they could do on Saturday night, that’s for sure,” Flores said about his teammates. “We needed different guys to step up, and they did. It was awesome, the first playoff win in Risers history. It was special. It was good to see all the hard work pay off, and we’re not done.”

Flores said any team in the league, including Cleveland, can be beaten on any given night, regardless of whether or not he plays. He noted that the Risers gave the Crunch a tough battle in several games this season, and could very well pull of an upset, particularly with a big, loud home crowd on hand.

“Anybody can be beaten in this league,” Flores said. “Cleveland has some really good players, but we’ve shown them we can hang with them. I really think the thing is up for grabs. It’s always going to be a dog fight against them, but nothing is impossible.

“Our fans are going to be the key. They will have to fire us up and get us going from the get-go.”