Reading United AC News Release -- www.readingunitedac.com
Monday, May 2, 2011
READING, Pa. – Reading United AC has added six players for the upcoming USL Premier Development League season as the club seeks to maintain its status as one of the top teams in the league. United is pleased to announce the signings of the University of North Carolina's Matt Hedges, and West Virginia University's Raymon Gaddis, both members of the team's 2010 side that reached PDL National semifinals.
They are joined by former U.S. U17 international Kirk Urso, the University of Virginia's Brian Span and U.S. U20 international Sam Garza and Ghanaian standout Stephen Okai.
The club will be led by 2010 NSCAA Second Team All-American Hedges, who will be entering his senior year at North Carolina this fall. Hedges spent his first three years at Butler before transferring to UNC shortly after the departure of former Butler Coach Kelly Finley for North Carolina State. Hedges is a gifted athlete and fierce competitor. At 6-foot-4, with good feet and with pace to burn he presents a daunting challenge for opposing front men.
Gaddis was part of a back four with Hedges last year that allowed one goal through Reading’s first six matches. His pace, tenacity, and ability to lead by example on the field make him an invaluable asset to the club. The WVU standout continues to pile up awards each season in the college game, he comes to Reading with extensive US Youth International experience, and he is certainly looking like a very good prospect at the next level in the eyes of, now fourth year RUAC coach, and Philadelphia Union Head Reserve Team Coach, Brendan Burke.
“Matt and Ray were tremendous for us last year and they were two of the first guys on my list this year," Burke said. "Both have the potential to move on to the pro game at a high level next year and we are glad that they have chosen to spend their summer leading our efforts again this year."
Urso has a U17 FIFA World Cup under his belt. He competed for the U.S. in the 2007 version of the top youth tournament in the world, and scored the goal against Belgium that put the United States through to the second round of the competition. Kirk will serve as captain next fall for the University of North Carolina side that has appeared in each of the last three NCAA Final Fours. Urso had five goals and five assists for the Tar Heels a season ago, finished second behind Enzo Martinez on the team in scoring.
Span was a member of a University of Virginia squad that grew this year while rebuilding from the school's 2009 National Championship Run. As a freshman, Brian started 18 of UVA’s 20 games and registered 13 points on five goals and three assists. At 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, and with excellent technical ability, the former U.S. U17 Residency Program Member is more than capable of taking over the goal scoring responsibilities at Reading for the summer of 2011.
Garza is a U.S. U20 International and a key part of University of California Santa Barbara’s squad, pending United Soccer Leagues approval. In the preparation period leading up to the U20 World Cup in 2009 in Egypt, Sam suffered a serious injury. That hasn’t slowed him down though, as he came back with a vengeance this past fall at UCSB and tallied 21 points on eight goals and five assists through a grueling UCSB schedule in 2010. If that is any indication of the form Sam will find this summer RUAC’s tremendous goal-scoring record is about to get even better.
Okai will be counted on to use his physical capability and the technical capacity to give the team whatever it needs on a given night. A NAIA First Team All-American last fall as a sophomore, Okai is also a former Ghanaian U15 and U17 International with size, athleticism, touch, and a relentlessness about him that makes him a weapon on both sides of the ball. Look for Okai to anchor the RUAC midfield all season long.
Reading will make more announcements in the coming days as they build their squad for the new season, with a number of quality players to roll out over the next few days.