Sigma
04-21-2007, 01:40 PM
Kick-off at 7:55pm EST
Radio - CJAD
Video - www.usllive.com
Preview from www.montrealimpact.com
ATLANTA, April 20, 2007 – The Montreal Impact will kick off its 14th season Saturday night against the Atlanta Silverbacks (7:55 pm, CJAD, www.usllive.com). The Impact, who were regular-season champions last year, will boast a considerable new look for this inaugural match with 10 new players joining its ranks.
“We have a lot of new players but we had an excellent training camp, during which we prepared ourselves very well,” explained team captain Mauro Biello, who is one point away from the 200-point mark with the Impact. “We’re confident that with the quality players who joined us, we’ll be able to cause trouble for the Silverbacks."
During the off season, the Impact notably loaded up on offence, with the acquisitions of
offensive midfielder Martin Fabro (Independiente, ARG D1), forwards Frederico Moojen (Augusta, PDL), Matt Palleschi (Toronto, USL), Sita-Taty Matondo (Vancouver, USL), Charles Gbeke (Rochester, USL) and Fabian Dawkins (Atlanta, USL).
Dawkins will be squaring off against his former team since he was part of the trade that brought him and Jason McLaughlin to Montreal in exchange for Impact forward Mauricio Salles and Daniel Antoniuk.
Salles has since decided to play in Japan while the Impact moved McLaughlin to Vancouver in return for Sita-Taty Matondo.
To compensate for the departure of Greg Sutton, the Impact also signed experienced goalkeeper Matt Jordan (Colorado, MLS), who should start Saturday, on top of signing defender Andres Arango (Toronto, USL) and Seth Trembly (Real Salt Lake, MLS) to fortify the back line.
All the new faces were united during training camp, which kicked off March 15 and continued in Florida for 10 days. The Impact boasted a record of 2-1-2 in pre-season play.
“There’s a good feeling on the team right now and we’re ready,” said Impact defender Gabriel Gervais. “Training camp was long and not always easy, but everybody is eager to start the season.”
The Impact has a lifetime record of 6-5-2 in inaugural matches and also signed two convincing victories of 4-1 and 2-1 last year against Atlanta.
However, the Silverbacks are renowned to start off the season strong, especially at home, boasting an eight-game undefeated streak at home last year, before falling to the Impact July 28.
“Atlanta always starts off well and keep themselves in the top five, I therefore expect a difficult match-up,” said Montreal Impact head coach Nick De Santis. “We have a young team and we will certainly need to be disciplined. Atlanta always struggled against us and they will come out strong because this will be their home opener. The team that will be able to manage the flow of the game best and that will be more confident will win. »
After its inaugural match on Saturday, the Impact will play its next three games on the road before coming home to its fans, May 20, against the Seattle Sounders, at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex.
Radio - CJAD
Video - www.usllive.com
Preview from www.montrealimpact.com
ATLANTA, April 20, 2007 – The Montreal Impact will kick off its 14th season Saturday night against the Atlanta Silverbacks (7:55 pm, CJAD, www.usllive.com). The Impact, who were regular-season champions last year, will boast a considerable new look for this inaugural match with 10 new players joining its ranks.
“We have a lot of new players but we had an excellent training camp, during which we prepared ourselves very well,” explained team captain Mauro Biello, who is one point away from the 200-point mark with the Impact. “We’re confident that with the quality players who joined us, we’ll be able to cause trouble for the Silverbacks."
During the off season, the Impact notably loaded up on offence, with the acquisitions of
offensive midfielder Martin Fabro (Independiente, ARG D1), forwards Frederico Moojen (Augusta, PDL), Matt Palleschi (Toronto, USL), Sita-Taty Matondo (Vancouver, USL), Charles Gbeke (Rochester, USL) and Fabian Dawkins (Atlanta, USL).
Dawkins will be squaring off against his former team since he was part of the trade that brought him and Jason McLaughlin to Montreal in exchange for Impact forward Mauricio Salles and Daniel Antoniuk.
Salles has since decided to play in Japan while the Impact moved McLaughlin to Vancouver in return for Sita-Taty Matondo.
To compensate for the departure of Greg Sutton, the Impact also signed experienced goalkeeper Matt Jordan (Colorado, MLS), who should start Saturday, on top of signing defender Andres Arango (Toronto, USL) and Seth Trembly (Real Salt Lake, MLS) to fortify the back line.
All the new faces were united during training camp, which kicked off March 15 and continued in Florida for 10 days. The Impact boasted a record of 2-1-2 in pre-season play.
“There’s a good feeling on the team right now and we’re ready,” said Impact defender Gabriel Gervais. “Training camp was long and not always easy, but everybody is eager to start the season.”
The Impact has a lifetime record of 6-5-2 in inaugural matches and also signed two convincing victories of 4-1 and 2-1 last year against Atlanta.
However, the Silverbacks are renowned to start off the season strong, especially at home, boasting an eight-game undefeated streak at home last year, before falling to the Impact July 28.
“Atlanta always starts off well and keep themselves in the top five, I therefore expect a difficult match-up,” said Montreal Impact head coach Nick De Santis. “We have a young team and we will certainly need to be disciplined. Atlanta always struggled against us and they will come out strong because this will be their home opener. The team that will be able to manage the flow of the game best and that will be more confident will win. »
After its inaugural match on Saturday, the Impact will play its next three games on the road before coming home to its fans, May 20, against the Seattle Sounders, at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex.