CFC Azul News Release -- www.cfcazul.com
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
HAMDEN, Conn. -- CFC Azul is excited to announce three additional commitments for the 2013 PDL campaign. The Azul will return Mario DiMiceli and Sony Narro from last season’s squad and are excited to receive a commitment from Jonny Raj out of Fairfield University.
Raj, who will graduate in May, is no stranger to the PDL. He played for the Chicago Fire PDL team in 2011 and then joined Reading United in 2012 where he saw action in 10 games. In his senior season at Fairfield, Raj started in 14 games and tallied one goal while receiving his third All-MAAC First Team selection. He was also named as one of 42 players to the Hermann Trophy watch list, an award given to the top player in college soccer. Raj started in every game his first three years and finished his junior season having started 54 consecutive games for the Stags.
"Signing Jonny Raj is another huge step in moving the Azul forward,” CFC Azul head coach Dave Kelly said. “Before Fairfield University, Jonny had experience with the New Zealand National team. He also has plenty of PDL experience; last year with Reading and captaining the Chicago Fire's team in 2011. He is athletic, good on the ball, and he's a natural leader. We're thrilled he's agreed to play for us this season."
DiMiceli was a big part of the Azul’s success in 2012 as he tallied four goals in nine games for eight points on the season. In the fall, he played for Southern Connecticut State University and led the team in scoring with 27 points off of a team-high 12 goals and three assists. Before Southern Connecticut State University, DiMiceli played at Iona College for three seasons. As a junior in 2011, he tallied four points off of two goals. He had one goal as as sophomore and two goals and an assist as a freshman in 2009.
"Mario DiMiceli only played a handful of matches last year, but he showed that he has a killer instinct around goal,” Kelly said. “He is a goalscorer, par excellence. My hope is that after a great season, Mario moves on to a higher level."
Narro was also an influential part of the Azul’s offense last season as he finished with eight points off of three goals and two assists. After last summer he returned to Dominican College for his junior season where the success carried over as he tallied a team-high 21 points off of eight goals and five assists and was also named to the All-CACC First Team. Narro started in all 19 games for Dominican. As a sophomore, he had seven points off of three goals and one assist and as a freshman, he was named the CACC Rookie of the Year after posting 17 points off of five goals and seven assists.
"Sony Narro is one of the most technical players in this part of the country,” Kelly said. “He is quick, skillful, and can turn the game in an instant. The fans of CFC Azul will be happy he's returning, and so am I. He's a joy to coach, fun to watch and he will be a big part of the Azul this year."
All seven CFC Azul home games will be played on the campus of Central Connecticut State University this summer. Click here for tickets!
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