Neil Hlavaty Joins Strikers in Trade from Carolina RailHawks
Published on December 30, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. - The Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Carolina RailHawks today announced a trade that sends James Marcelin to Carolina in exchange for Neil Hlavaty. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Neil Hlavaty (HUH-lava-tee) has played the second-most matches (128) of any player in the North American Soccer League (NASL) Modern Era. Last season in Carolina, the midfielder missed just one match, competing in 29 NASL contests, logging 2,420 minutes and tallying four goals and two assists.
"Neil is a modern midfielder who is perfectly suited for the attacking, possession game of soccer that we want to play," said Head Coach and General Manager Caio Zanardi. "He is an intelligent box-to-box player who always shows commitment and is tactically well rounded."
Hlavaty, 29, arrives in Fort Lauderdale as a complete midfielder with an acute ability to score or assist from set piece opportunities. He began his professional career in 2008 with the Cleveland City Stars in the USL Second Division after three years of college soccer at Boston University. He led Cleveland to the USL-2 title in his first and only season with the club.
The Berwyn, Ill. native had stints overseas at Swedish club Ãsters and Polish side Jagiellonia Bia?ystok, before returning to the States and signing for NSC Minnesota Stars (now Minnesota United FC) in 2010. After three successful years with the midwestern club, including winning the NASL Championship in 2011 and finishing runner-up in 2012, Hlavaty joined FC Edmonton for the 2013 season, and made a total of 51 appearances in his two seasons, finishing with five goals and seven assists.
The announcement comes on the back of yesterday's roster additions of Gale Agbossoumonde, Nana Attakora, Giuseppe Gentile, and Maicon Santos. The Strikers roster is comprised of 14 players, with several more joining ahead of the Strikers participation in the Florida Cup.
Fort Lauderdale kicks off the Florida Cup on January 10, 2016, against FC Schalke 04 in Orlando, and will face Santa Fe on January 17 in Boca Raton, Fla.
Lockhart Stadium will serve as the host of two Florida Cup games. The first is January 13 when Schalke squares off against Brazilian side Atlético Mineiro. One week later, January 20, Brazilian squads Fluminense and Internacional meet. Tickets are on sale now at Strikers.com/FloridaCup.
The Strikers would like to thank departing midfielder James Marcelin for his service to the club, and wish him the best of luck in his career.
North American Soccer League Stories from December 30, 2015
- RailHawks Acquire Haiti National Team Midfielder and 2015 Best XI James Marcelin in Trade - North Carolina FC
- Neil Hlavaty Joins Strikers in Trade from Carolina RailHawks - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Tony Meola Adds Mark Lowry as Assistant Coach - Jacksonville Armada FC
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