Whitecaps FC Add Arnoux and Forko
August 18, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the free agent signings of striker Cody Arnoux and defender Willis Forko - pending league approval. Per club policy, terms were not disclosed.
Arnoux, 22, joins Whitecaps FC following a spell with English Premier League outfit Everton FC. During the 2009-10 season, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound forward scored twice in seven appearances for Everton's reserve squad. Prior to his move to Europe, the Wilmington, North Carolina, native was an NCAA Division I standout at Wake Forest University. In his first season with the Demon Deacons, Arnoux was named to the College Soccer News' "100 Freshmen to Watch" list.
In three seasons at Wake Forest, Arnoux scored 33 goals in 64 matches - including a team-high 17 goals and 42 points in his junior year - as he earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) First Team honours that season. It was also in his junior year that the striker was selected as a semifinalist for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, which is awarded annually to the top NCAA player.
While with the Demon Deacons, Arnoux also played for United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) side Carolina Dynamo. In three seasons with the Dynamo, the striker scored 13 goals in 16 appearances with the North Carolina-based club. Arnoux has also appeared for the United States national team at the U-15 and U-18 levels.
Forko, 26, re-signs with the Whitecaps after spending one month with the club in early 2008 before transferring to FK Bodø/Glimt of Norway's top-flight Tippeligaen. The versatile left-sided defender/midfielder was a mainstay at FK Bodø/Glimt, as he appeared in a total of 60 matches and recorded three assists. Prior to his time in Norway, Forko played two seasons with Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound defender/midfielder started 38 matches and played a total of 3,244 minutes with the Utah-based club.
Before his 14th overall selection in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft, Forko enjoyed four successful years at the collegiate level - one with the University of South Carolina and the remaining three with the University of Connecticut. Forko finished his university career with three goals and 15 assists in 85 appearances and was twice selected to the All-Big East Third Team. Born in Monrovia, Liberia, Forko and his family moved to Houston, Texas, when he was seven-years-old. He is a member of Liberia's national team player pool.
North American Soccer League (NASL) Conference leading Vancouver Whitecaps FC (9W-3L-11D) will battle USL Conference club FC Tampa Bay (6W-8L-8D) this Thursday, August 19, at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Thursday's match kicks off at 4:30 p.m. PT and can be seen live online at whitecapsfc.com/live.
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from August 18, 2010
- Rochester Defeats Palace Baltimore, 2-0 - Crystal Palace Baltimore
- RailHawks Earn First Come from Behind Victory with 2-1 Win Over - North Carolina FC
- Rhinos Win at Baltimore - Rochester Rhinos
- Whitecaps FC Conclude Road Spell in Tampa Bay - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Whitecaps FC Add Arnoux and Forko - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Mexican Legend Claudio Suarez to Explore Return to Soccer - North Carolina FC
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