Vancouver Whitecaps News Release - www.whitecapsfc.com

 

Wednesday, February 1, 2006

 

VANCOUVER, BC -- Vancouver Whitecaps Director of Soccer Operations, Bob Lenarduzzi, is pleased to announce the re-signing of USL First Division MVP Jason Jordan and Rookie of the Year nominee Joey Gjertsen. The Whitecaps are also excited to announce that forwards Daniel Antoniuk (Portland Timbers) and Corey Woolfolk (Puerto Rico Islanders) have inked deals with the club.

“We are thrilled to have Jordan and Gjertsen returning after very successful 2005 campaigns,” said Lenarduzzi. “This, along with the additions of Antoniuk, who finished fourth in league scoring in 2005, and Woolfolk, who finished tied for fifth in league scoring, will undoubtedly add a new dimension to our attack.”

Jason Jordan, 27, was named the 2005 USL First Division MVP, leading the league with 17 goals and 37 points, both career highs.

The 2005 season was the fifth straight year, and sixth time overall, that the Richmond, B.C. native led the Whitecaps in scoring. In week four, Jordan was named the Player of the Week after scoring all four goals in Vancouver’s 4-0 win over Charleston. He was also a member of the Team of the Week six times last year and named to the 2005 All-League First Team.

Jordan, a veteran of nine years, is Vancouver’s third all-time leading scorer with 74 goals in 205 games. The 5’10”, 170-pound striker is a former Canadian U-23 and U-20 international member.

Joey Gjertsen, 23, joined the Whitecaps last spring after completing his collegiate career at Evergreen State College. The native of Tacoma, Washington played in all but one game for the Caps last year, notching three goals and three assists in 1,442 minutes.  The 5’9”, 155-pounder finished third on the team in scoring and was a nominee for USL First Division Rookie of the Year award.

As a member of Evergreen State College men's soccer team Gjertsen led the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Region 1 in scoring in both his junior and senior years with 27 and 23 goals respectively. In addition, in his senior year Gjertsen garnered All-Region 1st Team recognition and was named Region I Conference Player of the Year.

Daniel Antoniuk, a native of Philadelphia, spent the last three seasons with the Portland Timbers. The 25-year-old striker led the Timbers in scoring last year and finished fourth in the league with 28 points, including 13 goals. In 2005, Antoniuk was a member of the USL First Division Team of the Week five times and was named Player of the Week in Week 21 after scoring four goals in wins over Atlanta and Richmond during the week. These key matches secured Portland one of the final playoff spots. Antoniuk, a 6’3” 195-pounder, was named to the 2005 All-League Second Team.

Antoniuk left Wheaton (MA) College as the all-time record holder in every major statistical category, including career totals of 54 goals and 144 points. He is also a three-time New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All-Conference selection and 2000 NEWMAC Player of the Year.

Corey Woolfolk, a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, spent the 2005 campaign in a Puerto Rico Islanders uniform. As an Islander, the 26-year-old forward finished tied for fifth in league scoring with 23 points (nine goals, five assists). Since entering the league in 2001, Woolfolk has also suited up for Rochester, Pittsburgh and Minnesota. Woolfolk did not play in 2002 due to a broken foot but served as an assistant coach for the University of Michigan men’s soccer team.

Woolfolk played his college career with the Stanford Cardinal graduating with a degree in urban planning. As a tri-captain in his senior year he scored 32 points earning him Second Team All-Conference honours. The 5’10” 165-pounder was also named to the PAC 10 All-Academic First Team. Following college he was drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer and led the club in scoring (five goals in six matches) in the pre-season before being released in March 2001.

The Whitecaps regular season kicks off on Saturday, April 22 versus Antoniuk’s former team, the Portland Timbers. Guarantee your seats for exciting Whitecaps action with full season tickets. A seat deposit of just $25 will secure the best available seats at Swangard Stadium for the 2006 season, plus priority purchase rights for the proposed Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium! For more information please call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or visit www.whitecapsfc.com.