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USL-1 Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Bolster Roster With Three Additions

April 9, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


(Rochester, NY)... Rochester Rhinos President and General Manager Matthew Ford announced today that club has added midfielders Ze Roberto, Luke Kreamalmeyer and Leslie "Tiger" Fitzpatrick to its roster for the 2008 season. All contracts are subject to USL and USSF approval.

"In an effort to bolster our midfield, we have selected three players with a wealth of experience, in both the MLS and USL, and we're excited to have Tiger, Luke and Ze join the Rhinos," said Ford.

Roberto joins Rochester after splitting the 2007 season with the Vancouver Whitecaps of USL-1 and the Detroit Ignition of the Major Indoor Soccer League. The 29-year-old native of Maranhão, Brazil appeared in six games with the 2006 USL-1 champions before turning to the indoor game to help guide the Ignition to the 2008 MISL regular season title.

Prior to his stint with Vancouver, the 5-foot-7,155-pound midfielder spent five seasons (2002-07) with the Montreal Impact, registering 17 goals in 138 games. In his first season with Montreal, Roberto was named the Impact's Newcomer of the Year. He led the team to the USL-1 championship Voyageurs Cup, was named the Unsung Hero Award and was selected into the USL Second All-League team. He helped the Impact to a 15-game undefeated streak in 2005, a new league record, and won the regular-season title. During the 2006 season, he became the 10th player in club history to reach the 100 career games played mark with the Impact on June 24th.

Roberto spent the 2000 and 2001 seasons with the Hershey Wildcats, tallying nine goals in 50 matches. Roberto tallied five goals and three assists en route to club Rookie of the Year honors in his first season with the Wildcats. He helped Hershey post the best record (16-7-3) and the best offense (45 goals scored) in the Northern Conference, and reach the championship game in 2001.

Kreamalmeyer comes to the Flower City after the Rhinos received him for an undisclosed fee from the Charleston Battery. Prior to his time with the Battery, he spent back-to-back seasons with the Portland Timbers, becoming one of eight players in franchise history to appear in all 28 regular season games. In 2006, Kreamalmeyer led Portland with eight goals and 16 points, earning him All-League First Team honors. In 2005 he made his MLS debut with Real Salt Lake, collecting an assist in six games.

Before making his jump to the professional ranks, Kreamalmeyer played four seasons at Bradley University from 2001-2004. He leaves the school fourth all-time with 20 assists and fifth all-time with 72 points and was named to the First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference in 2003 and 2004.

Fitzpatrick will don the Rhinos colors in 2008 after playing in his hometown of Trinidad and Tobago for the 2007 TT Pro League season. "Tiger" came to the United States to play four years of college soccer at Columbia University, where he was named All-Ivy League his senior year. After college, Fitzpatrick played with the then A-League's Cincinnati Riverhawks (2002-03) and Atlanta Silverbacks (2004).

His most impressive season of professional soccer came in 2005, signing with Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. The 5-foot-6, 160-pound midfielder played 716 minutes, recording two assists in all 18 games with Salt Lake. Prior to making the jump to the MLS, Fitzpatrick made his debut for the Trinidad and Tobago national team in 2004.

The Rhinos begin their 13th season on Friday, May 2nd at 7:30 p.m. in Charleston, SC, as they take on the two-time USL-1 champion Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium. Rochester opens its 2008 home slate at PAETEC Park on Saturday, May 17th against Charleston at 7:35 p.m.

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