Carolina Men's Soccer In The Pros
April 9, 2014 | Men's Soccer
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER (MLS)
PLAYERS
Jalil Anibaba enters his 1st season with the Seattle Sounders, 4th overall in the MLS. In 2013, Anibaba started all 34 regular season games for the Chicago Fire. He set career highs in appearances (34), minutes played (3,060), and assists (3). Anibaba also tied the league lead in minutes and games played.
Corey Ashe is entering his 8th season the Houston Dynamo is the MLS. In 2013, Ashe was a regular at the left back position. He became the 6th player in Dynamo history to join the 10,000 minute club. Ashe was a 2013 MLS All-Star and was named to the 2013 CONCACAF U.S. Gold Cup roster.
Tyler Deric returns for his 6th season with the Houston Dynamo. In 2013, Deric did not feature in regular season play as he served as the No. 2 goalkeeper. He appeared in two CONCACAF Champions League games and two U.S. Open Cup games, earning shutouts against W Connection FC and FC Tucson.
Danny Garcia returns for his 2nd year with FC Dallas. In 2013, Garcia started and played in all eight MLS Reserve League matches. He finished the season with 2 goals and 2 assists.
Michael Harrington enters his 8th season in the MLS and 2nd with the Portland Timbers. In 2013, Harrington started 33 of the club's 34 matches during the regular season. He led Portland with 2,951 minutes played and set new career highs in games and minutes played. Harrington was a 2013 MLS All-Star and also remains a part of the U.S. Senior Men's Nation Team player pool.
Matt Hedges returns for his 3rd season with FC Dallas after he signed a multi-year contract extension on March 12th. In 2013, Hedges logged career highs in games played (33), games started (32), and minutes played (2793), all of which were team highs.
Zach Loyd returns for his 5th season with FC Dallas. In 2013, Loyd appeared in more than 24 matches for the 4th consecutive season. He became the 16th player in franchise history to surpass 100 starts in a career.
Stephen McCarthy returns for his 4th season with the New England Revolution. In 2013, McCarthy made 19 appearances, including 17 starts.
Dax McCarty returns for his 4th season with the New York Red Bulls and 10th overall in the MLS. In 2013, McCarty appeared in 30 games for the 2nd consecutive season while making 29 starts. He scored a career-high four goals and six assists. McCarty also remains in the U.S. Senior Men's National Team player pool.
Logan Pause enters his 12th MLS season as the longest tenured member of the Chicago Fire. In 2013, Pause appeared in 15 matches, started in 11 for 904 minutes.
Billy Schuler enters his 1st season with the San Jose Earthquakes after being selected in the MLS weighted lottery. In 2013, Schuler played for Hammarby IF in Sweden, coached by former Tar Heel and current Columbus Crew head coach Greg Berhalter. He scored 2 goals in 26 appearances during his two years at Hammarby IF.
Ben Speas returns for his 3rd season with the Columbus Crew. In 2013, Speas appeared in 19 games and started 10. He recorded one goal and one assist.
Sheanon Williams returns for his 5th season with the Philadelphia Union. In 2013, Williams played and started in 32 games, logging 2190 minutes. He tallied 3 goals and 8 assists during the season.
COACHES
Gregg Berhalter begins his 1st season as Head Coach for the Columbus Crew. Berhalter spent the last two years with Swedish Club Hammarby IF, where he became the first American to manage a club within a top-ranked European Federation.
Marco Ferruzi returns for his 11th season as Assistant Coach and 3rd as Reserve Team Coach for FC Dallas. In 2013, FC Dallas finished 8th in the Western Conference and 15th overall with a record of 11 wins, 12 losses, and 11 draws.
Chad Ashton returns for his 8th season as Assistant Coach for DC United. The 2013 MLS season was disappointing for DC United. They are hoping to have better success in 2014 and return to the playoffs.
Kerry Zavagnin returns for his 6th season as Assistant Coach for Sporting Kansas City. The 2013 season was one for the ages as Zavagnin and Sporting KC won the 2013 MLS Cup after beating Real Salt Lake in penalty kicks. The team finished the regular season record with 17 wins, 10 losses, and 7 draws, which was good for 2nd in the Eastern Conference.
NORTH AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE (NASL)
Jordan Gafa returns for his 2nd season with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In 2013, Gafa appeared in 14 games starting 10 of them.
Scott Goodwin begins his 1st season with the Carolina RailHawks of the NASL. Goodwin spent the 2013 season with Iceland's IF Hottur.
Enzo Martinez signed a permanent deal with the Carolina RailHawks of the NASL this past February. Martinez spent the majority of the 2013 season on loan to the RailHawks from Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. In 2013, Enzo appeared in 15 games and scored 3 goals for the RailHawks.
Brian Shriver enters his 1st season with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL after signing a contract in December. In 2013, Shriver finished the NASL season as the league's top goal scorer with 15 goals for the Carolina RailHawks. He received the Golden Boot award and named to the 2013 NASL Best XI.
Jamie Watson begins his 1st season with Minnesota United FC of the NASL after being transferred from USL Pro's Orlando City. In 2013, Watson scored 10 goals in 20 games for Orlando City.
UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE PRO (USL PRO)
Mike Callahan returns for his 4th season with the Richmond Kickers of the USL Pro Division. In 2013, Callahan started off the season with Richmond before being loaned out to NASL's Carolina RailHawks for the last six games of the season.
Alex Dixon begins his 1st season with the Rochester Rhinos of the USL Pro League after playing the last three seasons with the Houston Dynamo. In 2013, Dixon spent the season on loan with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He made three appearances during the regular season.
Mikey Lopez is playing his 1st season with USL Pro's Orlando City after being sent out on load from MLS side Sporting KC. In 2013, Lopez made his professional debut with Sporting KC in the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Lopez also participated in the 2013 FIFA Under-20 World Cup representing the United States.
NON U.S. LEAGUES
Eddie Ababio is playing his 1st season with Club Deportivo Aguila of the El Salvador Premier League after playing with NASL's Carolina RailHawks last season. So far during the 2013-14 season, Ababio has appeared in 16 games, starting six of them.
Ryan Adeleye returned for his 2nd season with Hapoel Ashkelon FC, which competes in Israeli's 2nd Division. So far during the 2013-14 season, Adeleye has started and appeared in 18 games.
Michael Farfan begins his 1st season with Cruz Azul of the Mexico Liga MX after being sold on permanent transfer from the Philadelphia Union and Major League Soccer. Farfan played three seasons with the Philadelphia Union. He tallied four goals and nine assists in 82 appearances for the Union.
Eric Lichaj is playing is 1st season with Nottingham Forest FC of England's Football League Championship. Lichaj spent the 2012-13 season with Aston Villa FC. He appeared in 17 English Premier League games, 4 League Cup games, and 2 FA Cup games.