Phantoms Sign Players
April 23, 2007 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
New Hampshire Phantoms News Release
HAMPSTEAD, NH - (Monday, April 23, 2007) - The New Hampshire Phantoms are pleased to announce ten recent signings to the 2007 squad. Many of the agreed upon contracts are pending United States Soccer Federation final approval. Included among the additions is forward Narcisco Fernandes of University of Wisconsin (1999-2000). Fernandes was selected by the Kansas City Wizards as the 59th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2000 Major League Soccer Super Draft. Fernandes was honored as All-Midwest Region and the Badgers' team Most Valuable Player in 2000.
The Phantoms also signed University of NH goalkeeper Brian Levey, two-time All-America East Goalkeeper of the Year. Levey was selected in the first round (6th overall) of the USL-1 draft by the Atlanta Silverbacks in January. Past soccer honors for Levey include selection onto the Nike Fall Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team three times, the 2006 NSCAA Men's Division I All-Northeast Region Second Team, and the First-Team All-New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in 2005. In 2004 he tied the Wildcats' single-season record with six shutouts. A year later Levey broke the record by posting 10 shutouts, and in 2006 notched 10 shutouts once again. He also set a school record in career shutouts with 27 in 2006 and finished that same season ranked second in the conference in goals against average (0.57) and save percentage (.872). He ranked ninth overall in Division I goals against average.
Brian Levey
Also signed is midfielder Craig Lamy, University of Massachusetts Lowell's (2005) 4-year starter, who was selected for the 2006 New England Intercollegiate Soccer League All-Star game North/West squad as a midfielder. Lamy was on the final eligibility list for selection in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft. Lamy played for the New England Revolution reserve squad in 2006. Michael Cafeteiro, a UMass Lowell NE-10 All-Region and All-Conference player from Dracut, MA, will help anchor the Phantoms defense. He was named to the New England Intercollegiate Soccer League (NEISL) Senior All-Star Game. The UML senior was part of a team that compiled a 47-17-14 record over the last four years which included two NCAA Tournament appearances and two Northeast-10 Conference Tournament titles. Along the way, he earned NE-10 all-conference honors three times. A 5'9", 170-pound midfielder, Cafeteiro captained his team to a 7-4-6 record in 2006.
Michael Cafeteiro Adding strength to the Phantoms' attack will be Neil Krause, a 2004 graduate of Boston College. He will add tremendous size and an effective scoring touch. He played previously with USL-1 Milwaukee Wave after being originally drafted by Cleveland Force in 2005. Krause also played for the PDL Cape Cod Crusaders in 2004 as well as with the Western MA Pioneers. As a senior at BC, Krause had a 2.5 shots-per-game average, good for 10th best in Big East Conference, and his 0.5 goals-per-game average was 6th highest average in the conference. He led the Eagles in points (16), goals (8), Game-Winning Goals (2), Shots (40), Shots on Goal (52.5%), and ranked third in the team in Assists with 2. He holds the single season record for goals scored at Assumption College which he established as a freshman. He participated in the 2007 Pro Combine in Sanford, Florida.
Neil Krause
Robert Dow, a graduate of University of Maine, brings experience as a college player, professional player, and college coach to the Phantoms. As a player at Maine, Dow was the Black Bear's leading scorer for two years and tied a school record with three goals in a single game. He played with the Ottawa Wizards and was a starter for the Wizards in his first season in 2003. A former assistant coach for the Maine men's soccer team, Dow also has four year's coaching experience at the club level. He also served as Men's and Women's Assistant Coach for Mayville State in North Dakota. The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, native was a three-time recipient of both Maine and the America East Conference academic achievement award.
Robert Dow
Bolstering the Phantoms' defense will be Wheaton College's (2006) James Greenslit. Greenslit was previously signed to a contract with the New England Revolution reserves. He was a 2005 Third Team National Soccer Coaches Association of America Adidas/All-American in 2005. He is a two-time New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Player of the Year and a 3-time NSCAA All-America selection. He also performed double duty at Wheaton when he suited up for the men's basketball team. In Wheaton soccer, he ranks fourth in all-time match appearances with 81, having started 78 consecutive matches. During that time the Lyons compiled a 64-17-6 record, won two NEWMAC titles, qualified for three NCAA Tournaments, including a Final Four appearance in 2003. As a stopperback, he enabled Wheaton to allow just 52 goals through three seasons helping the team post a 0.78 goals against average while recording 32 shutouts along the way.
James Greenslit
Michael John Murphy of American International College in Springfield, MA, will provide the Phantoms with some much needed depth at the goalkeeper position. Murphy, a four-year player at AIC, hails from Ithaca, NY. He also played for Herkimer County Community College in New York where his team made a Final Four appearance in 2002 and 2003. Murphy helped his AIC team to a 6-7-1 record while starting 14 matches in 2006 for AIC. He posted three shutouts while recording 84 saves and a 1.19 goal against average in 15 games. In 2005, he stopped four shots en route to his Yellow Jackets shutout in the ECAC Division II Championship game. Murphy was selected for the Region 1 Olympic Development Team in 2002, and was a Ithaca High School All-State and All-Region player.
Michael Murphy
Dublin, Ireland native Joseph Clancy, brings a bit of international flavor to the Phantoms. Clancy, a 2006 Nova Southeastern University Co-Captain, started all 17 games for NSU, registering seven points, good for sixth on the team. He scored the game-tying goal in the 80th minute of a 2-2 draw with Florida Tech last October. He scored 5 goals and added seven assists while starting in 64 games for the Sharks from 2003-2006. Clancy tied the program record for most assists in a single game with three against Delta State (9/4/05). He also played for the National U-18 cup and league champions with Bohemians F.C.
Joseph Clancy
Former Curzeiro Esporte Clube player Euler Botelho will also join the roster. Botelho played in the Campeonato Brasileiro League in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Cruzeiro is one of the oldest and most traditional clubs in Brazil. They have never been relegated or removed from the Brazilian Série A (along with Internacional, Flamengo, and Vasco da Gama). They are the 2nd Brazilian club in Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol rankings and have the 5th highest home attendance in Brazilian football. They have won a total of seven international honors and are the reigning Mineiro champions.
The Phantoms open their USL-2 Division 2007 campaign at Richmond Kickers on April 28. The first home match for the team will be at its new home venue at Manchester Memorial High School on Friday, May 11, when it takes on Harrisburg City Islanders at 7:30 PM. For the entire schedule, go to www.nhphantoms.com.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 23, 2007
- Jacob Coggins USL-2 Player of the Week - Charlotte Eagles
- Phantoms Sign Players - New Hampshire Phantoms
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