Thursday, September 24, 2009
TAMPA, FL – Although the USL Second Division season concluded weeks ago, five players from Charlotte, Harrisburg, Richmond and Wilmington are set to make an impact on loan with USL First Division clubs for the upcoming playoff campaign.
As USL-1 clubs approached the roster freeze in August, several took advantage of the opportunity to add some of the top USL-2 players to their rosters on loan to provide depth for the postseason. In several cases, the decision proved critical for the playoffs set to start Thursday evening with the Quarterfinals.
Two moves may be key due to recent injuries to star players on USL First Division sides that have sidelined leading contributors for the playoffs.
Amaury Nunes of the Charlotte Eagles joined the Rochester Rhinos and has only seen 44 minutes in two games, but may be called upon more in the playoffs following the season-ending injury to striker Johnny Menyongar. He nearly tallied the winner in the season finale for Rochester off a corner in the late stages of the game, but saw his header careen off the woodwork.
The Rhinos also added Tim Velten of the Harrisburg City Islanders. The defender has seen significant time with 208 minutes played in four games since the move, providing support in shutouts in the last two games of the year and starting in the finale.
Another addition that could prove wise due to injury is Chris McClellan by the Charleston Battery. The goalkeeper joined Wilmington after two seasons with the Carolina RailHawks in USL-1 and was picked up while the Battery were without Dusty Hudock, who later announced he was opting for surgery on his injured knee and would miss the rest of the year. McClellan is currently the number two keeper behind longtime back-up Keith Wiggans, but provides valuable USL-1 experience as a back-up.
Also joining Charleston from the Hammerheads was Jamie Franks. The striker has played in two games for the Battery, starting and recording an assist in the final match of the regular season, a 3-2 victory on the road over the Minnesota Thunder.
A player that has already made a difference on the scoresheet is Richmond Kicker striker Matthew Delicate. The former USL-1 player for Richmond and Rochester, returned to the Kickers this season and found his scoring touch again, earning the goal scoring title. The striker reported to the Carolina RailHawks after winning the USL-2 championship and will have a shot at a personal double on the year. On a deep roster offensively, Delicate has only seen 29 minutes since joining the club, but recorded an assist on an excellent individual play in the 2-0 victory over Montreal in the regular season finale.
