Force Signs Two Players

Published on September 25, 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 exercised its option on goalkeeper Otto Orf and has signed defender Joe Mattacchione to a contract.

Orf, who is recovering from off season rotator cuff surgery, will begin his 19th season of indoor soccer and his 13th year in a Cleveland uniform. Last season, Orf earned the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Defensive Player of the Week award on two occasions as well as honorable mention MISL Defensive Player of the Month for month of March He was selected for the team's Unsung Hero Award while picking up the Zarzour Nissan Player of the Month for January. Orf started in 19 games and recorded 307 saves while facing 430 shots.

Mattacchione, who will begin his first season in a Cleveland uniform and the MISL, previously played for the Toronto Thunderhawks of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). While playing for the Thunderhawks, Mattacchione teamed with fellow Force players: Guiliano Oliviero, Nevio Pizzolitto, Marco Reda and Chris Stathopoulos as he appeared in 13 games and recorded one three-point goal and two assists for a total of five points as well as three blocks for the Thunderhawks. During this past summer, Mattacchione played for the Toronto Lynx of the A-League and was named the Lynx Defender of the Year.

During his collegiate career, Mattacchione played four years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and was a three-time first-team All-Conference selection as well as a as first-team rookie All-Conference member. He was tabbed as UAB team MVP on two occasions and was selected as UAB Team Captain in his last three seasons. Mattacchione is second all-time in UAB assists with 22.

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