The A-League begins its 2003 season Friday night. The following is a preview of the Eastern Conference. A preview of the Western Conference will appear tomorrow.
NORTHEAST DIVISION:
MONTREAL IMPACT
Opener: May 10 at Toronto
2002 Record: 16-9-3 (eliminated in quarterfinals of playoffs)
Coach: Bob Lilley
Stadium: Claude Robillard Stadium (capacity: 8,000)
Web site: http://www.montrealimpact.com/
Three of the Impact's top four scorers are back: Eduardo Sebrango, Ze Roberto and Mauro Biello. It's picked up goalkeeper Michael Ueltschey on loan from MLS's Columbus Crew and 20-year-old forward Chris Lemire, who led Calgary in scoring last year. The Impact lost two players to Scandinavian clubs: midfielder Patrice Bernier (Norwegian Second Division Moss) and defender Adam Braz (Swedish Second Division Vastreras).
PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS
Opener: April 25 at Charlotte
2002 Record: 8-15-5 (didn't make playoffs)
Coach: Tim Carter
Stadium: Bethel Park Stadium (capacity: 5,400)
Web site: http://www.riverhounds.com
The key acquisition is the return of midfielder Justin Evans, who saw time the last two seasons in MLS in 2000 and 2001. Two college stars arrive to help on defense: Penn State standout Brent Jacquette and Eric Ongao, a Kenyan international who played one year at NAIA power Park. During the offseason, veteran striker David Flavius led St. Lucia to a surprise third-place finish in its Gold Cup qualifying group.
ROCHESTER RHINOS
Opener: May 2 at Atlanta
2002 Record: 17-8-3 (eliminated in semifinals of playoffs)
Coach: Pat Ercoli
Stadium: Frontier Field (capacity: 12,052)
Web site: http://www.rhinossoccer.com
The Rhinos continue to shuttle strikers in and out. Gone is Greg Simmonds (Richmond). In are David Hayes (Richmond) and Mac Cozier (Charleston). Billy Andracki takes over in goal for Pat Onstad and Scott Vallow, who joined MLS clubs San Jose and Colorado, respectively.
SYRACUSE SALTY DOGS
Opener: May 2 at Charlotte
2002 Record: first year.
Coach: Laurie Calloway
Stadium: P&C Stadium (capacity: 11,117)
Web site: http://www.syracusefc.com/syracusefc.pl
Pro soccer returns to the Salt City for the first time since 1974 when the Suns of the old ASL folded five games into the season after going 4-25-0 in three seasons. The Salty Dogs hope for better success. They will play on artificial turf at P&C Stadium — dictated by the baseball Toronto Blue Jays, whose Triple-A team plays in Syracuse. Laurie Calloway has begun work in his seventh American outdoor league. His stint at the PDL's Des Moines Menace followed jobs in the NASL, ASL, WSL, APSL and MLS. The Salty Dogs get their first big test April 20 when they scrimmage Montreal.
TORONTO LYNX
Opener: May 3 at Pittsburgh
2002 Record: 10-13-5 (didn't make playoffs)
Coach: Peter Pinizzotto
Stadium: Centennial Stadium (capacity: 3,500)
Web site: http://www.lynxsoccer.com
The Lynx bolstered its attack with the signing of Argentine Sebastian Barclay from Temuco of the Chilean First Division. Barclay will team up with Nikki Vignjevic, the Lynx's all-time leader in goals, assists and points who returns for his fifth season. Toronto lost 2002 top scorer and A-League Rookie of the Year Niki Budalic, who signed with SwedenÆs Orebro SK. Budalic is one of four Lynx players to move to Scandinavia in the last year after 19-year-old Canadian international Atiba Hutchinson (Osters of the Swedish First Division), Marco Reda (Sogndal of the Norwegian First Division) and Milan Kojic (Haugesund of the Norwegian Second Division).
SOUTHEAST DIVISION:
ATLANTA SILVERBACKS
Opener: April 26 vs. Pittsburgh
2002 Record: 13-13-2 (eliminated in first round of playoffs)
Coach: Jacenir Silva
Stadium: DeKalb Memorial Stadium (capacity: 15,000)
Web site: http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com
Jacenir Silva replaces Brett Mosen as coach. Silva has a lot of work ahead of him. The Silverbacks lost defender Philippe Godoy to Cincinnati and midfielder Carlos Parra to Minnesota during the offseason. The only major signing has been that of former MetroStars strikers Martin Klinger.
CHARLESTON BATTERY
Opener: April 19 at Richmond
2002 Record: 19-3-6 (eliminated in quarterfinals of playoffs)
Coach: Chris Ramsey
Stadium: Blackbaud Stadium (capacity: 5,113)
Web site: http://www.charlestonbattery.com
The Battery has signed former MLS players Jamar Beasley, Ted Chronopoulos and Rick Titus. The biggest help could be Josh Henderson, who scored 11 goals for Richmond in 2002. Returning are three all-league players: first team goalie Dusty Hudock, first team defender Mark Watson and second team defender Linval Dixon.
CHARLOTTE EAGLES
Opener: April 19 vs. Cincinnati
2002 Record: 10-14-4 (eliminated in first round of playoffs)
Coach: Mark Steffens
Stadium: Providence High School and Waddell High School
Web site: http://www.charlotteeagles.com
The Eagles, owned and operated by Missionary Athletes International, slumped to below .500 for the first time since 1993, their first year in the D3 Pro League. This year, they move from Transamerica Field on the UNC Charlotte campus to a pair of high school stadiums.
RICHMOND KICKERS Opener: April 19 vs. Charleston
2002 Record: 13-9-6 (runner-up in playoffs)
Coach: Leigh Cowlishaw
Stadium: University of Richmond City Stadium (capacity: 22,200)
Web site: http://www.richmondkickers.com
The Kickers lost its 2002 MVP, Marco Ferruzzi, to Minnesota and Josh Henderson to Charleston. The key additions are U.S. under-23 national team striker David Testo out of the University of North Carolina, Greg Simmonds, the No. 2 scorer at Rochester last season, and midfielder Jason Russell, a member of Milwaukee's championship team. Defender Chris Brown is back after suffering a season-ending knee injury just 56 minutes into the 2002 season.
VIRGINIA BEACH MARINERS
Opener: April 18 vs. Cincinnati
2002 Record: 6-19-3 (didn't make playoffs)
Coach: Shawn McDonald
Stadium: Sportsplex (capacity: 10,000)
Web site: http://www.hamptonroadsmariners.com
No A-League team has upgraded its roster quite like the Mariners, who have signed MLS's all-time leading goal scorer Roy Lassiter (88 goals) and Dante Washington, tied for 10th (52 goals). They have also signed Costa Ricans Juan Carlos Arguedas and Richard Mahoney, Bolivians Danilo Eterovic and Roland Aguilera and St. Vincent & Grenadines international Cornelius Huggins.