Impact update

April 4, 2006 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Montreal Impact News Release


IMPACT KICKS OFF ITS TRAINING CAMP

The Montreal Impact kicked off its official training camp Monday in preparation for the 2006 United Soccer Leagues championship. The Impact will play pre-season games on Friday, April 7, at 10 am against the UQAM Citadins and on Saturday, April 15, at 10 am, against the Lac St. Louis Lakers senior team, which plays in the Quebec Elite Soccer League (LSEQ). Former Impact player John Limniatis is the Lac St-Louis Regional Soccer Association's staff coach. Both games will be played at the Catalogna Soccerplexe in Lachine.

IMPACT SIGNS LEONARDO DI LORENZO

The Montreal Impact announced that Argentinian midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo has joined the club, while defender Gabriel Gervais and midfielder Antonio Ribeiro have signed new contracts with the team. Di Lorenzo, a left-footed, offensive midfielder, was spotted by Impact head coach Nick De Santis during a scouting trip in Argentina, last January. He signed a one-year deal with a one-year option, to become official pending international clearance. Gervais, a keystone of the Montreal defense, and Ribeiro, an offensive midfielder who had his best offensive output in 2005, have both signed three-year deals.

IMPACT ACQUIRES DANIEL ANTONIUK

The Montreal Impact has acquired American forward Daniel Antoniuk, who finished fourth in United Soccer Leagues First Division scoring last season with 13 goals, from the Vancouver Whitecaps in return for forward Eduardo Sebrango. Antoniuk, who was the Portland Timbers' leading scorer in 2005, had become a free agent and signed a two-year deal with the Whitecaps on February 1st. Antoniuk, 25, is 6'3" and 195 pounds. He spent the last three seasons with the Portland Timbers. He led the team in scoring last year with 28 points in 2,021 minutes of play.

21 IMPACT GAMES TO BE BROADCAST ON CJAD

For the fourth consecutive year, soccer fans will be able to follow the Montreal Impact's activities on English-language radio, as 21 games over the 2006 season will be broadcast on CJAD 800 - seven more than last year. It is the second year of a three-year agreement between the Montreal organization and CJAD. CJAD will broadcast seven road games, including the season opener in Miami on April 23.

SIX IMPACT GAMES ON RDS IN 2006

For a fifth consecutive season, soccer fans will be able to follow the Montreal Impact's activities on the Réseau des Sports (RDS), as six regular-season games will be broadcast live on the French-language network in 2006. "Once again, we are pleased to count on RDS and their support," said Montreal Impact President Joey Saputo. "RDS is an important media partner that will allow soccer fans to follow the team and to see our players in action throughout the season."

CANADA TAKES ON JAMAICA IN MONTREAL

The Canadian Soccer Association is pleased to announce that the Men's National Team will play a home and away series of international friendlies against Jamaica this fall. The first match between the two nations is scheduled for Monday, September 4 (Labour Day) at 4:00 p.m. in Montreal at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard. The second match will take place in Kingston, Jamaica on Sunday, October 8th. The kick off time is still to be determined.

FOCUS: NICK DE SANTIS HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AS HEAD COACH

The Impact's training camp is now underway and although the team dominated the USL D1 last season, as demonstrated by its regular-season title pocketed two weeks before the end of the schedule and a record-breaking streak of 15 games without a loss, head coach Nick De Santis has not changed his philosophy. The Montreal squad must continue to find ways to improve. Full story: www.impactmontreal.com.

THE MONTREAL IMPACT RÉNO-DÉPÔT SOCCER SCHOOLS

Designed by Lloyd Barker, former Montreal Impact player who is now the club's Director of Youth Development, the program includes many different exercises that professional players use. It is also based on fun exercises and games that will allow each child to develop and improve their individual and group skills. With the Impact, you learn while having fun! All details on the Impact Réno-Dépôt Soccer Schools on www.impactmontreal.com.

SEASON TICKETS ARE STILL ON SALE

The Impact 2006 season-ticket packages are still on sale. For further information, contact the Impact ticketing office at 514-328-3668 or ticketing@impactmontreal.com.



USL First Division Stories from April 4, 2006


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