Force Bolsters Roster With Three Player Signings

Published on October 1, 2002 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Cleveland Force News Release


CLEVELAND, OHIO- Cleveland Force President and General Manager Paul Garofolo today announced that the team has signed goalkeeper Jim Larkin, defender DJ (Douglas James) Newsom and defender Eric Kvello to contracts.

Larkin, who will begin his second season in Cleveland and his fourth of indoor soccer, signed a new two-year contract. In his first season with Cleveland, Larkin recorded 389 saves as he split time with Otto Orf. Jim will handle the majority of the goalie duties as Orf rehabs from off season rotator cuff surgery. In his three seasons of indoor soccer, Larkin has appeared in 64 games and has posted 948 saves with an overall record of 25-31. Larkin spent the summer playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the A-League and he helped the Whitecaps advanced to the finals of the Western Conference before falling to the Milwaukee Rampage, the eventual A-League Champions. Larkin started five of the six Whitecap playoff games and recorded four shutouts. Jim recorded two shutouts in Vancouver's opening round series with the Portland Timbers as the Whitecaps advanced to face the Seattle Sounders in the semifinals. He picked up his third consecutive shutout as Vancouver defeated the top-seeded Sounders 2-0 in the first game of the two-game series. Larkin had his playoff shutout streak snapped at 331 minutes in the deciding game of the series with the Sounders as the Whitecaps advanced to Western Conference Championship series.

Newsom, who was acquired by Cleveland in the St. Louis Steamers Dispersal Draft, was signed to a one-year plus an option year contract. While in St Louis, Newsom appeared in 42 games and recorded two goals and four assists for a total of six points. He also picked up 51 blocks. DJ was a four-year starter at Quincy University at the center midfield position and was named second-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference and the team's Most Valuable Player.

Kvello, who was acquired by the Force on Friday, September 27 in a trade with Harrisburg along with Steve Klein and Bernie Lilavois as well as a first round draft pick from the Dallas Sidekicks for the rights to midfielder Beau Brown, signed a two-year contract. In his two seasons with the Heat, Kvello appeared in 75 games while posting 20 goals and adding 12 assists for a total of 55 points. He also recorded 17 blocks. He was a graduate of Georgetown University. While at Georgetown, Kvello was a third-team All-American and a Big East Offensive Player of the Year award selection. Eric finished his career at Georgetown as the second all-time leading scorer with 124 points. In addition to his indoor career, Kvello has spent time with the New York/New Jersey Metrostars of Major League Soccer (MLS.), Hershey Wildcats and Connecticut Wolves of the A-League.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from October 1, 2002


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.

OurSports Central