Whitecaps Add Youth, Signing Three
Published on February 27, 2008 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the signings of defender Luca Bellisomo, midfielder Mason Webb and forward Nick Webb. Bellisomo and the Webb brothers have agreed to one-year contracts, plus an option.
Bellisomo, 21, joins the Whitecaps after a successful four-year career at Simon Fraser University (SFU). In his senior year, the six-foot-one, 175-pound, centre back started all 20 matches and guided the Clan to a 17-2-1 record. This included a trip to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Final Four, SFU's first visit since 1991. Bellisomo, a stalwart leader on a backline that only conceded six goals on the year, also contributed offensively with three goals and one assist. For his efforts, he earned the NAIA Region I Player of the Year award, was named a NAIA First Team All-American, and was a member of the NAIA All-Region Team.
In 2006, Bellisomo started all 15 games with the Clan and was named a NAIA Region I All-Star and a Third Team NAIA All-American. In total, Bellisomo played in 64 matches, scored four goals and added three assists. Bellisomo is currently majoring in biology.
Bellisomo is a native of Johannesburg, South Africa, and first moved to Vancouver in 1994, where he played youth soccer with North Shore Metro and later with Delta Selects. In 2001, the defender moved to Australia for three years before returning to the Lower Mainland to attend SFU. In addition to his time at SFU, Bellisomo was a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps reserve team in 2005 and in 2007, he captained Canada at the World Universiade Games in Bangkok, Thailand, where the team made it to the semifinals.
Mason and Nick Webb, 21-year-old identical twins from Bellingham, Washington, come to Vancouver from Oregon State University.
Mason is a five-foot-eight, 158-pound midfielder that played all four years of eligibility at Oregon State University. Majoring in psychology, Mason was named to the Pac-10 All-Academic second team twice (2006 and 2007) and in his sophomore year, he made the Pac-10 All-Academic honorable mention squad. In total, he appeared in 70 matches, scored four goals and added four assists.
At the youth soccer level, Mason played one year with Snohomish United and served as the team captain in four of his five years with WFC Rangers. The midfielder also played four years on the Washington state and US Region IV Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams.
Nick played the final three years of his collegiate career at Oregon State University. As a member of the Beavers, the five-foot-nine, 165-pound forward appeared in 56 matches, scored 13 goals and added five assists. In his senior year, he was a Pac-10 All Conference selection and made the Pac-10 All-Academic first team for the second consecutive year; Nick is majoring in exercise and sport science. In 2004, his freshman year, Nick attended Western Washington University and scored five goals and added four assists in 20 matches.
Nick played one year of youth soccer with Snohomish United and six seasons with WFC Rangers. The forward also played four years on the Washington state and one year on the US Region IV ODP teams.
Vancouver Whitecaps open the 2008 regular season at Swangard Stadium against the Montreal Impact on Saturday, April 12. Season tickets are now on sale, starting at $199. Call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or visit whitecapsfc.com for more information.
USL First Division Stories from February 27, 2008
- Impact down FC Vizela 1-0 - Montreal Impact
- Miami FC signs Venezuelan midfielder/forward Juan Pablo Galavis - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Whitecaps Add Youth, Signing Three - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Sounders Re-Sign Chris Eylander - Seattle Sounders
- Dusty Hudock signs for 2008 - Charleston Battery
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