Arizona United SC News Release -- www.arizonaunited.com
Thursday, April 10, 2014
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Arizona United Soccer Club – Arizona’s only professional soccer team playing in USL PRO – is pleased to announce the signings of midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo, defender Devon Grousis, and goalkeeper Jacole Turner for the upcoming USL PRO season, pending league and USSF approval.
DelPiccolo, 22, returns to Arizona after recently participating in the 2014 Desert Diamond Cup in Tucson, Ariz. with the New England Revolution. The Wheat Ridge, Colo. native played collegiately at the University of Louisville, where he finished as the school’s all-time assist leader with 23 career assists. In his sophomore season, DelPiccolo guided Louisville to a runner-up finish at the 2012 NCAA College Cup, and also competed for the River City Rovers in the PDL.
DelPiccolo was selected with the 27th overall pick by the Montreal Impact in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. He forwent an opportunity to play in North America, and signed with the German Bundesliga’s Eintracht Frankfurt, where he appeared in seven matches for Frankfurt II, the club’s U-23 side playing in the fourth division. He rejoined the Impact midway through the 2013 MLS season before he was selected by the Revolution in the MLS Waiver Draft on November 25, 2013. DelPiccolo has represented the United States at the U-18 and U-20 National Team levels.
Grousis, 26, stays in Arizona after playing for the Phoenix FC Wolves in 2013, where he started in all of his 21 league appearances, amassing more than 1,800 minutes. Hailing from Fresno, Calif., Grousis turned professional in 2012, when he signed with the Charlotte Eagles. During that time, Grousis scored one goal in 15 league appearances. Grousis played collegiately at Fresno City College before he transferred to Fresno Pacific University in 2009, where he scored one goal and notched two assists in 14 matches. During his college years, Grousis played for the PDL's Fresno Fuego from 2008-11. During that time, he logged more than 3,500 minutes in 56 league appearances.
Turner, 19, joins Arizona United SC after recently competing for the Spanish club Atlético Madrid, where he was placed on its “C” team for top youth prospects. The Lee's Summit, Mo. native joined Atlético in 2012, after he went on trial for a handful of European clubs. Turner played for Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) team from 2010-12, and was named to the USSDA All-Central Conference Starting XI for the 2010-2011 season.
With the signing of these three players, Arizona United SC now has 19 players on the roster for the upcoming season. Earlier this week Arizona United SC announced the signings of goalkeeper Michael D’Arrigo and Evan Newton, defenders London Woodberry, Tyler Ruthven, Joseph Toby, Daniel Antúnez and Scott Morrison, midfielders Matt Kassel, Jon Okafor, Charles Renken and Widner Saint-Cyr, and forwards Brad Stisser, Bradlee Baladez, Brandon Swartzendruber and Kadeem Dacres. Forward Jonathan Top has joined the club on loan from FC Dallas.
Arizona United SC will make its inaugural USL PRO debut at home on Saturday night at the Peoria Sports Complex against the expansion OKC Energy FC. Gates to the Peoria Sports Complex will open at 5:30 p.m. PT with the match slated to kick off at 7 p.m. PT.