Head Coach:Daryl Shore Captain: Toni Ståhl
2012 stat leaders:
Goals: Mark Anderson (11) Assists: Walter Restrepo (8)
Shots: Mark Anderson (84) Minutes: Matt Glaeser (2,340)
Best XI: Mark Anderson, Walter Restrepo
2012 record: 5th: 9-9-10 (36pts); 40 GF/46 GA (-6 GD)
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers come into the 2013 Season with one goal, play for the soccer bowl.
With the way the new schedule format is laid out, the team who wins the spring championship season will host the Soccer Bowl and have the right to play the winner of the fall league, and with only 12 games in the spring season, every single game is an important one.
Teams will hit the ground running as they compete to become the Spring Championship Season Champion.
“It puts pressure on the coaches and players to win every week,” said NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson. “They can’t afford to have a tie, only the winner of the spring and the winner of the fall play in the championship game.”
The Strikers come into the season making huge off season moves, and the players see the urgency they will have to play with as this season starts due to the new format, “the spring season is more of a sprint with only a 12-game schedule,” says defender Scott Gordon. “We play a very exciting brand of football and we will be able to come out here and get the fans going, because the better the atmosphere, the better we play.”
A big question coming into 2013 was the health of Walter Restrepo, who was lost last season after tearing his ACL in practice.
“I feel much better,” says Restrepo. “I feel ready to start this new season strong and help my team win any way possible.”
Stefan Dimitrov, who’s on loan with Fort Lauderdale from the New York Cosmos, echoed the excitement to start a new season, “we are going to surprise a lot of teams this season. We are ready to get this season rolling on Saturday versus FC Edmonton.”
“We have a good group, we like the team we have put together,” said head coach Daryl Shore, “The guys all get along, which is the most important, and they all love to play soccer.”
Below is a look at the Strikers Starting XI:
Current roster: 1.Cody Laurendi; 2.Stefan Antonijevic; 3.Daniel Arcila; 5. Toni Ståhl; 6.Hosman Ramos; 7.David Foley; 8.Pecka; 10.Walter Restrepo; 11.Stefan Dimitrov; 12.Ivan Guerrero; 13.Justin Chavez; 14.Carlos Salazar; 15.Scott Gordon; 16.Mike Dietze; 17.Eduardo Jimenez; 18.Stephane Guillaume; 19.Gonzalo De Mujica; 20.Mark Anderson; 21.Darnell King; 23.Manny Gonzalez; 24.Matt Glaeser; 25.Rubens; 26.Andy Herron; 44.Shavar Thomas
Player movement:
Out: GK- David Martin; MF- Alfonso
Motagalvan; DF- Scott Lorenz; DF- Nickardo Blake; FW- Pat Otte; FW- Abe Thompson; FW- Polo Morales; DF- Emilio Orozco; DF- Jack Stewart; MF- Abel Gebor; DF- Lance Laing (FC Edmonton); MF- Conor Shanosky; DF- Nico Clavijo
Key losses: Lance Laing, Conor Shanosky, Abe Thompson
In: GK- Cody Laurendi (Puerto Rico Islanders); DF- Stefan Antonijevic; DF- Daniel Arcila; FW- David Foley (Puerto Rico Islanders); FW- Stefan Dimitrov (on loan from New York Cosmos); DF- Ivan Guerrero; DF- Justin Chavez; MF- Carlos Salazar; MF- Mike Dietze; MF- Eduardo Jimenez; DF- Stephane Guillaume; MF- Gonzalo De Mujica; MF- Manny Gonzalez; MF- Rubens; DF- Shavar Thomas
Key acquisitions: David Foley, Ivan Guerrero, Shavar Thomas
© Copyright 2013Pedro Heizer, All rights Reserved. Written For: 90 Minutes Strong
Source Article from http://90minutesstrong.com/2013/04/2013-fort-lauderdale-strikers-season-preview/