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NASL Minnesota United FC

NSC Minnesota Stars Prepare For Home Opener Against FC Tampa Bay

April 23, 2010 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release


BLAINE, Minn. (April 23, 2010) - After three consecutive road games to begin the 2010 USSF D-2 Pro League season, the NSC Minnesota Stars will get a chance to play in front of their own fans for the first time ever on Saturday, April 24, at 7 p.m. inside the NSC Stadium in Blaine.

The Stars' opponent is FC Tampa Bay, another expansion team.

The Stars began the season with a 2-0 loss at Vancouver on April 11, a 1-0 win at Carolina on April 16, and a 3-1 loss at Puerto Rico on April 21. After three long trips in two weeks, the Stars are excited to have a game that doesn't require getting on a plane.

The home field advantage will also allow head coach Manny Lagos to dress a full squad of 18 players for the first time this season after traveling with fewer players to open the season. Lagos will welcome the extra options on his bench, but he's most pleased about being able to involve all his players in game day procedures.

"I'm excited for all the guys to be involved in the game day process," Lagos said. "A lot goes into getting ready to play and it's not just the starting 11 or the 18 on the gameday roster, but everyone who trains hard everyday."

Tampa Bay enters the match with a 1-0-0 record after winning its only game of its short existence. Forward Aaron King scored in the 64th minute against Crystal Palace Baltimore.

The Stars and FC Tampa Bay have more in common that just being expansion franchises. In its only game so far this season, Tampa Bay lined up with a formation very similar to the Stars', with four defenders, two defensive midfielders, two outside midfielders who make deep runs in the offensive third, an attacking central midfielder, and a lone striker.

Beyond the similarity in formation, Lagos said it's hard to know what to expect from a team with so little history. It's not a completely unfamiliar situation for the Stars though, as two of their three opponents this season

"It's tough playing a new team because they're a bit of an unknown," he said. "But that's the way it's been for us this year.

Tickets for Saturday night's game are still available. Prices start at $8 for youth and $13 for adults. For ticket information, contact the Stars' ticket office by phone at (763) 792-7355 or visit www.nscminnesota.org.

Other notes:

* This is the first-ever match between NSC Minnesota and FC Tampa Bay.

* Eighteen players have made appearances for the Stars in three games this season. Daniel Wasson, Brian Kallman and Kyle Altman are the only three players to play all 270 minutes.

* Three Stars players will miss tonight's match due to injury. Midfielder Devin Del Do suffered a sprained knee against Carolina and will be out of action until early May. Goalkeeper Louis Crayton and defender Vorgen Less both suffered season-ending injuries. Crayton tore his right ACL on April 11 against Vancouver, and Less ruptured his left Achilles' tendon in training on March 29.

* Stars midfielder Daniel Wasson has played a part in both goals the Stars have scored this season. He scored the team's first goal against Carolina on April 16, and his pass set up Neil Hlavaty's late goal in Wednesday's 3-1 loss against Puerto Rico.

* FC Tampa Bay is unofficially nicknamed the Rowdies. The name honors the legacy of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, who played in the old North American Soccer League from 1975 until the league folded in 1984. The Rowdies continued as an indoor soccer team in various leagues until 1993. FC Tampa Bay has struggled with copyright issues with the name, however.

NSC Minnesota Stars Roster Goalkeepers (2): 1 - Joe Warren, 27 - Matt Van Oekel Defenders (5): 3 - Andres Arango, 6 - Kevin Friedland, 8 - Daniel Wasson, 11 - Chris Klements, 14 - Brian Kallman Midfielders (8): 4 - Neil Hlavaty, 7 - Andrei Gotsmanov, 10 - Johnny Menyongar, 13 - Kentaro Takada, 16 - Kyle Altman, 19 - Simone Bracalello, 21 - Leilei Gao, 26 - Ely Allen Forwards (3): 9 - Warren Ukah, 18 - Melvin Tarley, 20 - Brian Cvilikas

FC Tampa Bay Roster Goalkeepers (2): 1 - Daryl Sattler, 19 - Josh Lambo Defenders (5): 2 - Robert Valentino, 4 - Julian Valentin, 5 - Gordon Klejstan, 13 - Yendry Diaz, 17 - Mozzi Gyorio, Midfielders (8): 6 - Eric Ustruck, 7 - Kwame Adjeman-Pamboe, 8 - Jeremy Christie, 9 - Drew Yates, 11 - Chad Burt, 14 - Pascal Millien, 27 - Stanley Nyazamba, 32 - Takuya Yamada Forwards (3): 18 - Aaron King, 21 - Aaron Wheeler, 23 - Long Tan

###

Alex Haueter NSC Minnesota Stars 763.792.7333 (office) 651.252.7036 (cell) ahaueter@nscsports.org

---** Attachment **--- other

NEWS RELEASE For immediate release, April 23, 2010 For more information:

Alex Haueter, Media Coordinator Barclay Kruse, Chief Communications Officer NSC Minnesota Stars National Sports Center 763.792.7333 (office) or 763.785.5634 (office) 651.252.7036 (cell) 763.458.6615 (cell) ahaueter@nscminnesota.org bkruse@mnsports.org

NSC Minnesota Stars prepare for home opener against FC Tampa Bay

BLAINE, Minn. (April 23, 2010) - After three consecutive road games to begin the 2010 USSF D-2 Pro League season, the NSC Minnesota Stars will get a chance to play in front of their own fans for the first time ever on Saturday, April 24, at 7 p.m. inside the NSC Stadium in Blaine.

The Stars' opponent is FC Tampa Bay, another expansion team.

The Stars began the season with a 2-0 loss at Vancouver on April 11, a 1-0 win at Carolina on April 16, and a 3-1 loss at Puerto Rico on April 21. After three long trips in two weeks, the Stars are excited to have a game that doesn't require getting on a plane.

The home field advantage will also allow head coach Manny Lagos to dress a full squad of 18 players for the first time this season after traveling with fewer players to open the season. Lagos will welcome the extra options on his bench, but he's most pleased about being able to involve all his players in game day procedures.

"I'm excited for all the guys to be involved in the game day process," Lagos said. "A lot goes into getting ready to play and it's not just the starting 11 or the 18 on the gameday roster, but everyone who trains hard everyday."

Tampa Bay enters the match with a 1-0-0 record after winning its only game of its short existence. Forward Aaron King scored in the 64th minute against Crystal Palace Baltimore.

The Stars and FC Tampa Bay have more in common that just being expansion franchises. In its only game so far this season, Tampa Bay lined up with a formation very similar to the Stars', with four defenders, two defensive midfielders, two outside midfielders who make deep runs in the offensive third, an attacking central midfielder, and a lone striker.

Beyond the similarity in formation, Lagos said it's hard to know what to expect from a team with so little history. It's not a completely unfamiliar situation for the Stars though, as two of their three opponents this season

"It's tough playing a new team because they're a bit of an unknown," he said. "But that's the way it's been for us this year.

Tickets for Saturday night's game are still available. Prices start at $8 for youth and $13 for adults. For ticket information, contact the Stars' ticket office by phone at (763) 792-7355 or visit www.nscminnesota.org.

Other notes:

* This is the first-ever match between NSC Minnesota and FC Tampa Bay.

* Eighteen players have made appearances for the Stars in three games this season. Daniel Wasson, Brian Kallman and Kyle Altman are the only three players to play all 270 minutes.

* Three Stars players will miss tonight's match due to injury. Midfielder Devin Del Do suffered a sprained knee against Carolina and will be out of action until early May. Goalkeeper Louis Crayton and defender Vorgen Less both suffered season-ending injuries. Crayton tore his right ACL on April 11 against Vancouver, and Less ruptured his left Achilles' tendon in training on March 29.

* Stars midfielder Daniel Wasson has played a part in both goals the Stars have scored this season. He scored the team's first goal against Carolina on April 16, and his pass set up Neil Hlavaty's late goal in Wednesday's 3-1 loss against Puerto Rico.

* FC Tampa Bay is unofficially nicknamed the Rowdies. The name honors the legacy of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, who played in the old North American Soccer League from 1975 until the league folded in 1984. The Rowdies continued as an indoor soccer team in various leagues until 1993. FC Tampa Bay has struggled with copyright issues with the name, however.

NSC Minnesota Stars Roster Goalkeepers (2): 1 - Joe Warren, 27 - Matt Van Oekel Defenders (5): 3 - Andres Arango, 6 - Kevin Friedland, 8 - Daniel Wasson, 11 - Chris Klements, 14 - Brian Kallman Midfielders (8): 4 - Neil Hlavaty, 7 - Andrei Gotsmanov, 10 - Johnny Menyongar, 13 - Kentaro Takada, 16 - Kyle Altman, 19 - Simone Bracalello, 21 - Leilei Gao, 26 - Ely Allen Forwards (3): 9 - Warren Ukah, 18 - Melvin Tarley, 20 - Brian Cvilikas

FC Tampa Bay Roster Goalkeepers (2): 1 - Daryl Sattler, 19 - Josh Lambo Defenders (5): 2 - Robert Valentino, 4 - Julian Valentin, 5 - Gordon Klejstan, 13 - Yendry Diaz, 17 - Mozzi Gyorio, Midfielders (8): 6 - Eric Ustruck, 7 - Kwame Adjeman-Pamboe, 8 - Jeremy Christie, 9 - Drew Yates, 11 - Chad Burt, 14 - Pascal Millien, 27 - Stanley Nyazamba, 32 - Takuya Yamada Forwards (3): 18 - Aaron King, 21 - Aaron Wheeler, 23 - Long Tan

###

Alex Haueter NSC Minnesota Stars 763.792.7333 (office) 651.252.7036 (cell) ahaueter@nscsports.org

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