Indy Eleven Adds Pair of Players in Build-Up to Inaugural Match
Published on April 11, 2014 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Indy Eleven News Release
INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, April 11, 2014) - Indy Eleven Professional Soccer today announced a pair of additions with the signing of midfielder Dylan Mares and defender Fijero Okiomah to the North American Soccer League expansion club's roster. Per club policy, terms of both deals will not be disclosed.
The acquisitions of Mares and Okiomah come just hours before the club's Inaugural Game in NASL play tomorrow, Saturday, April 12, when Indy Eleven will play host to the Carolina RailHawks at IUPUI's Carroll Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET kickoff, live on MyINDY TV-23).
One of the signings will be a familiar face to Indy Eleven and Indiana University fans who have kept a close eye on preseason matches, as Mares has been trialing with the side for much of the last month. The signing of Okiomah brings a fresh face to the squad that will help solidify an already experienced backline. These latest two signings bring the club's roster to 21 players heading into tomorrow night's opener.
"These signings bring much needed depth to the team as we go into the Spring Season," said Indy Eleven President/General Manager Peter Wilt. "In Dylan we bring on board another talented player with Hoosier roots, while Fijero comes with a season of stellar play under his belt at the USL PRO level."
A dynamic and attacking-focused midfielder, Mares brings another potential scoring threat to the team's ranks. After spending his first three collegiate years with the University of Louisville (including a redshirt season in 2011), Mares transferred to Indiana University for the 2013 campaign, reuniting with his former Zionsville High School teammates Harrison Petts and fellow Indy Eleven midfielder A.J. Corrado.
"It means a lot for me to come back to Indianapolis and play in front of my friends and family. It's a great opportunity to play in front of people that have followed me throughout my whole career and I'm excited," said Mares. "I'm looking forward to concentrating on getting better every day and I know this team is working hard to get to the next level."
Mares' collegiate highlights started early, as he was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year for the 2010 Cardinals team that finished as the runner-up in the NCAA Men's College Cup. Mares ended his three-season college career with 18 goals and 11 assists in 63 matches (49 starts).
"With Dylan we get a quality attacking option in the final third of the field. He's good on the ball and has the quality that we think is important in a young professional," said Juergen Sommer, Indy Eleven Head Coach/Director of Soccer Operations. "He's a great late addition for us, especially from a technical standpoint. We're excited to be a part of the start of his pro career."
Indy Eleven added more physicality to the defensive side of the ball with the acquisition of 6'2" Fejiro Okiomah. The Austin, Texas, native joins the squad after playing for the Charlotte Eagles of the USL PRO League in 2013, when he also served as a guest player with the reserves side of Major League Soccer club Chivas USA. His impressive form in the MLS Reserve League, including a start against the LA Galaxy Reserves on October 7, 2013, earned the 23-year-old a contract offer from Chivas USA, but the High Point University.
"There's nothing better than joining an organization and being a part of history. I hope that that I can bring my talent to Indianapolis and help the team do something special in its first year," said Okiomah (pronounced oh-KEY-oh-mah). "I'm really looking forward to playing in front of the fans. I've already heard good things about the Brickyard Battalion and playing in a great sports city will be exciting."
Previous to his professional career, Okiomah had an impressive four-year stint at High Point, where he led the Panthers' backline to nine shutouts his senior year. Playing through all three lines during his collegiate career, Okiomah was a four-time All-Conference selection and a two-time NSCAA All-Region selection. He also spent the summers during his college career competing with USL Premier Development League (PDL) side Carolina Dynamo.
"With Fijero we're getting a versatile defender that had a good rookie season in the USL PRO. He played nearly every game for Charlotte last season, so we know he's a player we can depend on," said Sommer. "He had a standout college career at High Point and we're excited to see what he can produce at the next level."
North American Soccer League Stories from April 11, 2014
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- Indy Eleven's Inaugural Game Picked up as NASL 'Match of the Week' on ESPN3 - Indy Eleven
- Indy Eleven Adds Pair of Players in Build-Up to Inaugural Match - Indy Eleven
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