Wilmington Hammerheads News Release -- www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com
Friday, February 18, 2011
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Wilmington Hammerheads are excited to announce that they have signed two more players to their 2011 roster. Texas native, Andres Cuero and Ukrainian Andriy Budnyy are the most recent additions to the Hammerheads.
Originally from Chernivtsi, Ukraine, Budnyy led the Azusa Pacific University Men’s soccer team to two Golden State Athletic Conference titles, one Region II title, and the National NAIA Final his senior year. The forward was also named GSAC Player of the Year.
After college, Budnyy returned to home to the Ukraine where he played in the Ukrainian first division for FC Obolon Kyiv, scoring 28 goals in two years. He then joined the Carolina Railhawks where he helped the team reach their first playoff appearance by scoring five goals in nine starts. In 2009, Budnyy played one game on loan with the Hammerheads and scored the game winning goal against the Richmond Kickers.
An Austin, Texas native, Cuero is currently a senior standout for the UNC-Charlotte 49ers. In 2009, Cuero finished tied for second place in the Atlantic 10 with a career-high of seven assists. He assisted on the 49ers first goal against No.3 Wake Forest, and is one of five 49ers with at least 30 shots on goal. He played in 17 games, 13 of which he started.
In 2008, Cuero was named third-team NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic Region Honors and earned all-tournament honors in the Davidson/Adidas Classic, the UNCW/Courtyard Marriot Classic, and the Charlotte Nike Invitational. He also scored the game-winning goal with 51 seconds left that secured the Charlotte Nike Invitational Title.
Cuero has also spent time playing with the USL Premier Development League team, the Austin Aztex. The Aztex enjoyed a promising first season, winning six of seven games, including a 4-0 win against the DFW Tornados where Cuero scored a hat trick.
The Hammerheads are excited about the acquisition of both players, and feel that each of them will add vital elements to their 2011 squad.