Arizona United SC News Release -- www.arizonaunited.com
Friday, April 11, 2014
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Arizona United Soccer Club is set to make its USL PRO debut at home this Saturday against the expansion Oklahoma City Energy Football Club at the Peoria Sports Complex at 7 p.m. PT.
In conjunction with the match, Arizona United SC will hold a first responder and military appreciation night. Arizona United will offer two tickets when a first responder or active military ID is shown at the Peoria Sports Complex box office. Parking for all 14 of Arizona United’s 2014 home matches at Peoria Sports Complex is complimentary.
Earlier this week the club announced the roster for the upcoming season. The squad features six players who have seen action in Major League Soccer: Bradlee Baladez, Matt Kassel, Tyler Ruthven, Jonathan Top, London Woodberry and Daniel Antúnez. Eight players have competed at the youth national team level: Kadeem Dacres, Charles Renken, Jacole Turner, Evan Newton, Kassel, Woodberry and Top have all represented the United States, and Widner Saint Cyr represented Haiti at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea. Two players, Newton and Renken, were members of U.S. Soccer’s Residency Program at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Arizona United SC is led by head coach Michael Dellorusso, who joined the club after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland from 2010-2013. During his four-year tenure at Maryland, Dellorusso helped guide the program to four straight Sweet Sixteen and two Final Four appearances in the NCAA Division I men’s soccer tournament. Dellorusso’s staff includes assistant coach Austin Daniels and goalkeeper coach Cory Robertson. Daniels brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to Arizona United and is the Arizona Youth Soccer Association technical director.
OKC Energy FC is in its first season in USL PRO. The Energy have split their first two matches this season, defeating Orange County Blues FC, 2-0, on April 5, and falling to L.A. Galaxy II, 4-2, last Monday. Kyle Greig, Peter Caringi, David Leichty and Moer Yhan De Doue have all found the back of the net for the Energy.
Oklahoma City is led by head coach Jimmy Nielsen, the 2012 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and the starting goalkeeper for Sporting Kansas City in their 2013 MLS Cup victory.
Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT; gates open at 5:30 p.m. PT. For more information regarding Arizona United SC or to purchase tickets go online at www.arizonaunited.com. Fans and media can also follow the team on Facebook www.facebook.com/ArizonaUnitedSoccer or Twitter @AZUnitedSC.