Dayton Dutch Lions News Release -- www.dutchlionsfc.com
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
DAYTON, Ohio -- The Dayton Dutch Lions FC are proud to announce the signing of goalkeeper Matt Williams and forward Eli Garner for the upcoming USL PRO season.
Garner stood out in Bradenton, Fla. at the USL PRO Combine presented by Umbro in January. The attacker from Hillsborough N.C. is known for the way he seeks the goal and his ability to finish. Van Dinteren said he believed he found an important piece for the upcoming season, adding some additional scoring punch for the Dutch Lions.
"Eli Garner has the excact skills that we were missing on the team," Van Dinteren said. "He is dangerous in front of the goal, and I am confident that Garner can make a huge difference in scoring the goals after building up the Dutch way."
The 24-year-old Williams will defend the Dutch Lions' goal the coming season. Last year he played for the PDL team GPS Portland Phoenix, and was signed by the USL PRO's Wilmington Hammerheads for the final two months of the 2011 season. He appeared 19 times for the Big East's Cincinnati Bearcats in 2010, playing every minute of every game in his senior season. Williams recorded nine shutouts for the Bearcats, and a school-record 0.68 goals against average, as he was named to the All-Big East Third Team.
"Last year Williams had caught my eye already, but I couldn't sign him because we had contracted two goalies at the time," Dutch Lions coach Ivar van Dinteren said. "We are proud to have him on the team this year."
The Dayton Dutch Lions open the 2012 USL PRO season on the road against the Charlotte Eagles on Friday, April 13 at 7 p.m. The Dutch Lions' home opener is scheduled for Saturday, April 28 as the Rochester Rhinos visit Miami Valley South Stadium at 7:30 p.m. For more information and tickets, visit www.dutchlionsfc.com.