Roster Moves Continue as Rowdies Look to Defend Title in 2013
November 28, 2012 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced on Wednesday that the club has signed midfielder Keith Savage to a new three-year deal through the 2015 season. The club has also signed midfielder Evans Frimpong and defender Draymond Washington to new two-year deals.
Savage joined the Rowdies in 2011, and in 2012 played in 24 regular season matches with 22 starts, while starting in all four postseason matches. The Florida native played 2,199 total minutes, while finishing tied for second on the team with six assists. The midfielder scored a crucial goal and also recorded an assist in the second leg of the NASL Soccer Bowl Finals against Minnesota on October 27.
Frimpong joined the Rowdies on May 2, 2012, while playing in 11 regular season matches making six starts. Frimpong went on to play in three post-season matches, finishing the season with one assist and playing a total of 533 minutes.
Washington signed with the Rowdies prior to the start of the 2012 season, where he played six regular season games, including four starts for 424 minutes
The Rowdies also exercised its 2013 option for midfielder Shane Hill. Hill joined the Rowdies at the start of the 2011 season, playing in 22 matches with 16 starts in the regular season and starting in all four postseason games in 2012. Hill totaled 1,789 in the 26 games he played, while scoring two goals and adding three assists for the season.
"We have kept what we consider to be the core of our championship team together, and now we're focused on free agent signings to further improve the team," said Rowdies President and General Manager Andrew Nestor. "We anticipate signing an all-star caliber center back soon along with Takuya Yamada, and adding experienced and productive depth at the striker position."
The Rowdies have also announced that the club has declined a 2013 contract option for forward Fafa Picault.
At the moment, the Rowdies updated roster for the 2013 season is as follows:
Goalkeeper: Andrew Fontein
Defenders: Frankie Sanfilippo, Daniel Scott, Draymond Washington, and Raphael Cox
Midfields: Stuart Campbell, Luke Mulholland, Keith Savage, Shane Hill, and Evans Frimpong
Forwards: Mike Ambersley and Carl Cort
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North American Soccer League Stories from November 28, 2012
- Minnesota Stars FC Exercise 13 Options for 2013 - Minnesota United FC
- Roster Moves Continue as Rowdies Look to Defend Title in 2013 - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- RailHawks Exercise Options on 12 Players - North Carolina FC
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