Richey, Rosenband, Cigliano sign for 2008-2009 XSL season
October 16, 2008 - Xtreme Soccer League (XSL)
Chicago Storm News Release
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. - The Chicago Storm professional indoor soccer team returns two founding members of the organization and a rookie defender who joined the team midway through the 2007-2008 season. The Storm announce the signings of goalkeeper Jeff Richey, midfielder Andy Rosenband and defender Gabriel Cigliano for the team's 2008-2009 Xtreme Soccer League season. Richey and Rosenband have played for the Storm since the team's inception in 2004. Per team policy, terms of the players' agreements are not disclosed.
In addition to their tenure with the Storm, all three players have futsal experience at the national team level. Cigliano spent two seasons as a member of the Argentina Futsal National Team, and Richey and Rosenband recently participated with the U.S. Futsal National Team that qualified for the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup.
In 2007-2008, Jeff Richey, a Fort Wayne, Ind., native and Evanston, Ill., resident, set career highs in games started (19), minutes played (1,030:20), saves (197) and wins (10). He established a Storm record with 16 straight regular-season victories without a defeat from March 19, 2006, to Dec. 14, 2007. This off-season, Richey anchored the net for the U.S. Futsal National Team. In the CONCACAF Futsal Championships in Guatemala, Richey started in three matches, allowed only four goals and saved a whopping 58 shots as the U.S. took third place and qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Cup. Richey played collegiately at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
"We felt going into last season that we had two No. 1 goalkeepers with Jeff Richey and Jim Larkin. Jeffrey showed last season in his 19 starts that he is a No. 1 goalkeeper, and we're happy to provide him with an opportunity to move forward in that role," Storm head coach Steve Morris said. "I've followed him from Day 1 in Milwaukee, and he's better-rounded, he's better with his feet, he commands his position better, and he communicates well with our defenders. His development has been fantastic. His experience as the No. 1 goalkeeper on the U.S. Futsal Team should only heighten his game. I'm very proud of his accomplishments."
Andy Rosenband, a Hammond, Ind., native and former high school player at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (U-High), played in 29 regular-season matches for the Storm for a second straight season in 2007-2008. He scored seven goals and had four assists for 19 points. In 2006-2007, Rosenband earned a career-high 29 points for the Storm. This off-season, Rosenband joined Richey on the U.S. Futsal National Team, where he scored one goal in the CONCACAF Futsal Championships and added a tally in during Team USA's loss to Italy in Group B play in the FIFA Futsal World Cup. Rosenband played collegiately at Wake Forest and then Ohio State, becoming the first OSU Buckeye to be chosen in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft by the Dallas Burn. In 2005, Rosenband played in five games and scored two goals for the Chicago Fire Reserves of MLS.
"I'm excited to have Andy back in the mix. He's built for indoor," Morris said. "He's quick, durable, and he has a wonderful set of skills. In my opinion, Andy has gotten in the way of Andy. I don't think we've seen the best out of Andy yet, and it's going to be my job this season to get the best out of him. He's pesky, and he's combative like Jeff. He enjoys the scuffle on a shift-by-shift basis."
Gabriel Cigliano, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, played in nine games during the Storm's 2007-2008 season, though he also suffered a right MCL sprain toward the end of the season. He blocked three shots and scored his first career goal on Feb. 13, 2008. Before the Storm, Cigliano spent seven seasons as a member of Club Ferro Carril Oeste in Argentina.
"Gabby's low, strong and quick, and he's got that Argentinean bite and confidence to battle out there," Morris said. "It takes a while for any player to get going, and of course he had the sprained MCL. So we're confident he'll grow in this league. He has the determination and the will to win. He's versatile, where he can play in the back, as a forward and as a target player. And his experience with the Argentinean Futsal Team, you don't do that without being a quality player. So we're happy to have him here for his first full season. With Gabby's experience, we've also opened a pipeline to Argentina to possibly bring in new players and open some connections there."
The Storm have announced nine signings for 2008-2009, with more signings to come shortly. Defenders Fabinho, Chris Brisson, Will Kletzien, Branko Savic and Vladimir Knezevic, and forward Awadalla Morad, are signed for the Storm's 2008-2009 campaign.
The Chicago Storm organization enters its fifth season of professional indoor soccer. Chicago is a member of the newly created Xtreme Soccer League, which features the Storm, Detroit Ignition, Milwaukee Wave and New Jersey Ironmen. The Storm's 2008-2009 XSL season kicks off with a road game at New Jersey on Sunday, Dec. 14. Chicago's home opener takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, against Milwaukee, at the Sears Centre Arena.
Storm offices are located at 5333 Prairie Stone Pkwy., in Hoffman Estates. For more information on all aspects of Storm soccer, including season tickets, group outings, birthday parties and more, call 1-866-STORM-81 (1-866-786-7681), or visit www.ChicagoStorm.net.
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Xtreme Soccer League Stories from October 16, 2008
- Goran Vasic And Ironmen Headed To Florham Park Soccer Day - New Jersey Ironmen
- Richey, Rosenband, Cigliano sign for 2008-2009 XSL season - Chicago Storm
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