Silverbacks Begin Preseason Training Monday March 17Thursday March 13, 2008
ATLANTA—Preparation for the 2008 USL1 season begins Monday March 17 when players report for physical examinations. Closed two-a-day training sessions begin Tuesday. The Silverbacks' 2008 USL1 season kicks off April 19 against the Carolina RailHawks at Silverbacks Park.
Fourteen players return from last year's squad including captain Rodrigo Rios, USL1 Defender of the Year David Hayes, and the Silverbacks 2007 golden boot winner Warren Ukah.
"This is the first season we've had the luxury of bringing back a large number of players from the previous season," said Silverbacks head coach Jason Smith. "Not having to essentially start from scratch gives us a considerable advantage going into the season."
In 2007—the most successful season in the nine-year history of the club—the Silverbacks played to a 15-10-11 record in all competitions, advancing to the USL1 playoffs thanks to a fourth-place finish in league play. The Silverbacks advanced past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in club history, knocking off Rochester with a 3-2 home and away goal aggregate in the opening round before eliminating Portland in the semifinals in a dramatic penalty kick shootout after playing to a 1-1 home and away goal aggregate. The Silverbacks fell to Seattle in the single-game final 4-0 at Seattle.
In Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play the Silverbacks advanced through three rounds of knockout competition, topping USUSA club Azzurri F.C. 10-0 setting a USOC record for goals scored in a game and besting USL2 club Charlotte Eagles before falling to MLS' F.C. Dallas in penalty kicks after playing to a 1-1 draw.
Along with the retuning core of veterans a handful of new players were added including Jason McLaughlin, who returns to the Silverbacks after spending 2007 with league foe Vancouver, midfielders Josh Bolton and Mike Ambersely—both with Rochester in 2007—and Ansu Toure from Minnesota, who was loaned to MLS' Red Bull New York following the conclusion of the 2007 USL1 season. Four additional players have signed contracts with the club and will be announced upon league approval.
"We're going to have some depth at just about every position on the field," Smith said. "We are as close to being a complete team as we have ever been."
Smith will also be looking at between 10 to 15 trialists during the opening weeks of training—including six from the Silverbacks' three rounds of open trials earlier this winter—for the remaining one or two roster spots.
"With the quality of players we have it's going to be incredibly difficult to break into the team this year," Smith said. "We're bringing in some very good players for a second look. Competition is going to be fierce."
2008 Roster as of March 13, 2008
GK Ryan McIntosh
GK Felipe Quintero
D Matthew Bobo
D David Hayes
D Martyn Lancaster
D Justin Moore
D Tweety Walters
M Mike Ambersley
M Josh Bolton
M Scott Buete
M Macoumba Kandji
M Tony McManus
M Rodrigo Ríos
M Ansu Toure
M Jason McLaughlin
F Kevin Barrow
F Warren Ukah
F Anthony Wolfe
2008 USL1 Schedule
4/19 Carolina RailHawks
4/25 Montreal Impact
5/2 Seattle Sounders
5/10 @ Carolina RailHawks
5/16 Minnesota Thunder
5/18 @Seattle Sounders
5/24 @ Charleston Battery
5/31 Carolina RailHawks
6/6 Puerto Rico Islanders
6/12 @ Portland Timbers
6/14 @ Minnesota Thunder
6/21 Puerto Rico Islanders
6/28 Portland Timbers
7/3 Minnesota Thunder
7/18 Portland Timbers
7/27 @ Miami FC Blues
8/1 Charleston Battery
8/3 @Rochester Raging Rhinos
8/5 Vancouver Whitecaps
8/8 Miami FC Blues
8/10 @ Vancouver Whitecaps
8/16 Charleston Battery
8/20 @ Montreal Impact
8/23 @ Rochester Raging Rhinos
8/24 @ Montreal Impact
8/ 27 @ Vancouver Whitecaps
8/30 Rochester Raging Rhinos
9/13 @ Seattle Sounders
9/19 @ Puerto Rico Islanders
9/21 @ Miami FC Blues
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