SC United Bantams News Release -- www.southcarolinaunitedfc.com
Friday, April 19, 2013
GREENWOOD, S.C. -- The SC United Bantams are pleased to announce the addition of four players from schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference as they aim to replicate the success found with former Clemson standout Austin Savage, who recently signed with USL PRO's Charleston Battery. The Bantams have signed UNC’s Nico Rittmeyer, Clemson's Ara Amirkhanian and Alex Stockinger, pictured, and the University of Pittsburgh's Kevin Fielden for the upcoming season.
Rittmeyer was a standout freshman for North Carolina in 2012, coming off an illustrious high-school career that saw him ranked as the No. 51 player in the nation by ESPN and No. 75 by Top Drawer Soccer. Rittmeyer also earned ESPN All-America honors while setting a high school record by scoring 50 goals in a season and a national record of 10 straight games with hat tricks. He played for the U19 US National Team that participated in Stuttgart Cup, in Stuttgart, Germany. He is a former member of the 2011 SC United Academy team.
The midfielder duo of Amirkhanian and Stockinger are also players who can come in and make a difference right away. Amirkhanian played his high school soccer at Daniel High before signing with Clemson and was the Anderson Player of the Year. He was an All-State performer and played in the North/South All-Star Classic. He played his club ball with the Alpharetta Ambush 93 team, which he played a key role in his team winning the2010 USYSA National Championship.
Stockinger, from London, England, will be a rising senior next year at Clemson where he’s been a starter since he arrived at the school. He also was named to the All-ACC Academic team. He played his youth soccer for Reading Football Club, and was a member of the U17 and U19 Norway National teams.
Fielden, who arrives from new ACC member Pitt, made 17 appearances as a freshman for the Panthers in 2012. A defender and former Fort Mill, S.C. high school star, Fielden was 2012 HSSR High School 3A Player of the Year and led his team to the state championship, in addition to being a four-year starter and three-year captain. He was named to the Clash of the Carolinas All-Star team and All-State Super XXll Team. He played his club soccer for CESA 93 premier team.
"Alex, Ara, Kevin and Nico are exciting additions to our 2013 squad," said Coach Gary Winchester. "All four have experience playing in one of the country’s leading soccer conferences. Alex, Ara, Kevin, and Nico will bring confidence and belief with them, which will yet again position the performance bar a little higher.
"Having Clemson, UNC, and Pittsburgh all represented in our squad shows the caliber of playing staff SCUFC Bantams are attracting and committing. It again, establishes the USL for player development.
"Our coaching staff and I are very much looking forward to working our 2013 squad and the addition of Alex, Ara, Kevin and Nico add to the buzz."