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Unbeaten Atlanta Travels for Pivotal Match Day 5

May 2, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Silverbacks (1-0-3) visit Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Stadium on Match Day 5, meeting the Strikers with aspirations of reaching the NASL Spring Season halfway mark in style Saturday night.

Atlanta's point against the league-leading New York Cosmos last weekend sets up another opportunity to separate from the pack against the Strikers (2-2-0), who join the Silverbacks and Indy Eleven in a three-way tie for third place, level on six points. With Indy idle during Week 5 and the Cosmos just two points ahead, Saturday night's matchup will be a valuable chance to make a statement heading into the last half of the Spring Season.

Prepare for #FTLvATL with all the build to Saturday night's game in this week's Kickabout.

Atlanta Silverbacks (1-0-3) at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (2-2-0)

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. EDT

WHERE: Lockhart Stadium -- Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

STREAM: ESPN3

PREVIEWS

Atlanta travels to Fort Lauderdale level on points

Strikers attack vs. Atlanta defense

Midfield battle

Silverbacks forwards vs. Ft. Lauderdale back line

Debuting Ceus makes Team of the Week

Silverbacks goalkeeper Steward Ceus quickly celebrating his return from a preseason knee injury by earning a Team of the Week selection on his Atlanta debut. After rehabilitating his injury faster than expected, Ceus started against the New York Cosmos in a scoreless draw, picking up the Silverbacks' first clean sheet of the season.

"I'm excited to earn something from the league, but it's already on to the next one in my mind," Ceus said. "The team is in a great position in the table and we face a tough away match to Fort Lauderdale this weekend."

Ceus' selection brings the Silverbacks' 2015 total to five nominations in just four weeks. The goalkeeper joins defenders Rauwshan McKenzie and Simon Mensing and forwards Shaka Bangura and Kyle Porter as Atlanta selections in the Spring Season.

To add to the goalkeeper's exciting week, the former All-American at the University of Albany was named a position coach for Emory University's men's program, which made the NCAA Division III tournament last season.

"We are very excited to have Steward join our coaching staff for the fall of 2015," Emory head coach Sonny Travis said. "He brings a wealth of experience as an accomplished goalkeeper playing at the professional level and with the Haiti National Team. A goalkeeper with this background will be instantly respected by our four returning goalkeepers.

"I am confident he will challenge and develop each of our goalkeepers here at Emory."

Black named Emerging Star

NASL.com featured Atlanta defender Paul Black in this week's installment of the Emerging Star series that identifies young, breakthrough players in the league. Speaking with Matthew Levine, Black discusses his time at Oldham Athletic, how he ended up in Atlanta, and his impressions in his first year with the Silverbacks, in which he's played every minute in the Atlanta back line.

"We believe every game, home or away, that we're going to win," Black told NASL.com.

As part of a defense that's only given up three goals so far, the 24-year-old Englishman has reason to be confident in his new city.

CCL memories for Porter, McKenzie

Along with other NASL players with CONCACAF Champions League experience, Atlanta's Kyle Porter and Rauwshan McKenzie had a chance to remember their time in the continental tournament. Both Silverbacks gained MLS experience before coming to Atlanta and spoke on the competition ahead of Wednesday night's final in Montreal, won by Club America.

"It's a pretty big tournament, so you have pretty passionate fans down there," said McKenzie, who scored in the CCL for the Portland Timbers last year. "They're really supportive and get behind their teams, because they know that playing in the Club World Cup is a big opportunity for their club."

"You're going into environments that eat, breathe, and live the game," Porter said. "It's always a tough environment. The teams out there are never rollovers. You go out there and it's a big competition -- from the field, to the environment, to your hotel, everything."

Elsewhere in NASL

(All times Eastern)

Saturday, May 2

New York Cosmos vs. Ottawa Fury FC -- 7:00 p.m. (Brooklyn)

Carolina RailHawks vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies -- 7:30 p.m.

Jacksonville Armada FC vs. San Antonio Scorpions -- 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 3

FC Edmonton vs. Minnesota United FC -- 4:00 p.m.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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