Cerritos expected to join the RailHawks this weekend
July 31, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release
Cary, NC - (Thursday, July 31, 2008) The Carolina RailHawks announced today that they have acquired MLS veteran and Salvadorian International forward Ronald Cerritos for the remainder of the season pending US Soccer approval. Cerritos spent the beginning of the 2008 season with Real Maryland of the USL Second Division where he scored two goals and recorded one assist in 15 games played. He was released by Real Maryland after a loss to the Richmond Kickers last week.
"We were able to get a chance to see Cerritos play in the Open Cup," said RailHawks Head Coach Scott Schweitzer. "We were very impressed with his ability on the ball and play-making. When you add these qualities to his experience and leadership it gives us another element to add to our playoff and championship run."
RailHawks fans already caught a glimpse of Cerritos when Real Maryland visited WakeMed Soccer Park in the second round of the US Open Cup last June. Cerritos made things very difficult for the RailHawks defense and was one of the best players on the field. He is expected to join the team this weekend and may make his WakeMed Soccer Park debut as soon as Friday August 8 against the Montreal Impact if not tomorrow night against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Cerritos has spent the bulk of his career playing in Major League Soccer, being signed by the league on March 21, 1997 and allocated to the San Jose Clash. While with San Jose he achieved great success and was named to the MLS Best XI in his first year with the club. In the offseason after the 2001 season, Cerritos was traded to the Dallas Burn.
After a year and a half at Dallas, during which he scored seven goals, Cerritos was traded to D.C. United. Cerritos left DC in the middle of 2004 and went to play for Alianza in his native El Salvador. After the season with Alianza he returned to MLS and his original team, with San Jose acquiring him from DC. During his return season Cerritos scored an additional 6 goals and remains the top scorer for San Jose with 61 goals. Shortly after his return to the Earthquakes, however, Cerritos was moved to Houston for the 2006 season along with his teammates. Despite his success with San Jose his resulting stint with the Houston Dynamo was short-lived, as he was released in August 2006.
He was later signed by San Salvador F.C. on a two year deal and became an outstanding performer week in and week out, soon being recalled to the El Salvador national team to participate in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States.
Cerritos has been a mainstay in the El Salvador national team, having made over 40 appearances. He made his debut for the national team against Yugoslavia on November 12, 1995 and scored his first goal for El Salvador in a 2-1 victory over Colombia on May 29, 1999.
The RailHawks host the Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday August 1 at 8:00 PM in the second of four nationally televised games. The Carolina RailHawks travel to Puerto Rico on Sunday August 3 to face the Islanders for the third time this season. The match can be seen on www.USLLive.com. The RailHawks return home to host the Montreal Impact on Friday August 8 at 7:30 PM. Tickets for this match and all Carolina RailHawks events are available at the LGFCU Box Office, by calling 919-859-KICK (5425), at all Ticketmaster outlets or by visiting www.carolinarailhawks.com.
USL First Division Stories from July 31, 2008
- Cerritos expected to join the RailHawks this weekend - North Carolina FC
- Sounders acquire prodigy - Seattle Sounders
- Sounders travel to Puerto Rico to face Islanders - Seattle Sounders
- Paulson, Portland to submit application for MLS expansion franchise - Portland Timbers
- Timbers Acquire Bryan Jordan On Loan For Remainder Of 2008 Season - Portland Timbers
- Timbers' Knighton, Knowles Named To First Division Team Of The Week - Portland Timbers
- Miami FC to play Haiti with free admission this Saturday - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Sounders receive midfielder Ciaran O'Brien on loan, sign forward Kevin Forrest - Seattle Sounders
- RailHawks Host Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday August 1 at 8:00 PM in "Orange Out" Night - North Carolina FC
- Tigers Trade Impacts âCaps - Vancouver Whitecaps
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