Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today they have acquired midfielder/forward Jason McLaughlin from the Montreal Impact in exchange for forward Sita-Taty Matondo.
Montreal first acquired McLaughlin, a resident of Wetumpka, Alabama, on January 11, 2007 from the Atlanta Silverbacks in a four-player trade.
McLaughlin, 24, had a strong first season in the United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) with Atlanta. The 6-0, 180-pound forward played 2,041 minutes, led his team in shots with 49, tied for second in goals with five and finished third in points with 12.
On June 10, McLaughlin led the Silverbacks to a 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders scoring two goals and adding an assist. For his efforts he was named Week Eight USL-1 Player of the Week. McLaughlin found the back of the net seven days later against the Whitecaps, tying the game 2-2 late in the second half.
McLaughlin was also a member USL-1 All-Star team who played to a 0-0 draw against Sheffield Wednesday of England's Football League Championship last July 19.
Before joining the USL-1, McLaughlin had a productive career for the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) scoring 15 goals, 13 assists in 46 games. In his senior year in 2005, he was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's (NSCAA) All-Region team after leading UAB with five goals and eight assists for 18 points.
In 2004, he appeared and started in all 18 games as team captain, and was named to the Conference USA's (C-USA) All-Tournament team after leading UAB to the C-USA championship game by scoring the double-overtime game-winner in the semifinals. In 2003, he returned for his sophomore season after serving a two-year church mission in Japan from 2001-2002.
Sita-Taty Matondo scored three regular season goals and one playoff goal last year with the Whitecaps. Matondo returns to Montreal for his third stint with the club; he previously played with the Impact in 2003 and 2005.
29 March 2007
Bangkok University made a winning start to the defence of their Thai league title on Wednesday with Kraisorn Pancharoen's first half strike giving them a 1-0 victory over last season's runners-up Osotspa M-150.
Kraisorn hit the target 34 minutes into an entertaining encounter at Rangsit Campus Stadium as the AFC Champions League Group F surprise package took their impressive continental form into the domestic arena and gained revenge for the 2-1 defeat to Osotspa in the season-opening King's Cup in February.
Osotspa started the more positive of the two but couldn't break through a Bangkok University rearguard that is fast gaining a reputation for solidity having shutout Korean FA Cup holders Chunnam Dragons and restricted Kawasaki Frontale to a 78th minute Patiparn Phetphun own goal in their first two AFC Champions League matches.
At the other end Suriya Domtaisong - scorer of the Students' first ever ACL goal when he netted the opener against Kawasaki - flashed a 20th minute volley over the Osostpa crossbar after superbly taming a long ball before Kraisorn's low drive went just wide of keeper Phanuphong Suwatsrisakul's right hand post.
Thailand international Jakkrit Bunkham should have given Osotspa the lead on the half-hour mark but he failed to connect cleanly with Ponlawat Wangkahad's inviting cross from the right even though he was unmarked inside the six-yard box.
Osotspa, Thai league runners-up in 2002 as well as 2006, were made to pay for their influential midfielder's profligacy three minutes later when the reigning champions took the lead.
Tanapat Na Tarue fed Japanese midfielder Masahiro Fukasawa on the right flank and after Phanuphong had made a hash of clearing the former Montreal Impact man's cross, Kraisorn fired the ball into the roof of the Osotspa net.
The pace didn't relent in the second half and the home side were denied a second goal in the 62nd when defender Tanasit Tong-in superbly blocked an attempted strike from Suriya after the livewire Bangkok University had sprung the offside trap and was through on goal.
With 20 minutes remaining Tanasit and defensive partner Siwamet Thanounson had to team up to prevent him scoring the Student's second after he had got past Phanuphong, who had charged out of his area to clear the danger.
However, Kraisorn's goal was enough to ensure a winning start for Subpherm Somchai's side and should give the champions confidence for their next clash against Telephone Organisation of Thailand on Saturday.
Osotspa, who have yet to score in their campaign following a goalless draw with Nakhon Pathom last Saturday, next face Suphanburi away.
24 March 2007
The Montreal Impact announced, Monday, the signing of goalkeeper Matt Jordan for the next two seasons, while forward Massimo Di Ioia signed a three-year contract with the team. The club also announced that assistant coaches Peter Pinizzotto and Youssef Dahha have renewed their agreement with the club for the 2007 season.
Jordan, a native of Denver, Colorado, played eight seasons with Major League Soccer (MLS) and has also played in Denmark with first division club Odense Boldklub (Superligua). The 31-year old veteran goalkeeper played his best seasons from 1999 to 2002, playing 113 games and more than 10,000 minutes with the Dallas Burn. He also played for the Columbus Crew (2004 and 2005) and the Colorado Rapids (2006).
"We were looking for a goalkeeper with experience to help Andrew (Weber) who is still young," said Nick De Santis. "Jordan has shown great skills in the MLS. His attitude and his leadership will help us. Both goalkeepers will fight positively for the number one spot."
Di Ioia, a 19-year-old Montreal native, made his USL First Division debut with the Impact in 2006. In his rookie season last year, he scored a goal and added an assist in 15 games and 516 minutes played.
Before joining the Impact, Di Ioia played with the Montreal-Concordia AAA Soccer Elite Club from U14 to U18 and with the National Training Centre. In fact, he will be part of the upcoming FIFA U20 World Cup, which will take place in Canada this summer.
"We're happy to have signed a long-term deal with him," said De Santis. "Massimo has shown after one season that he is capable of playing in our league. We know that his concentration will be on the U20 World Cup this summer but this tournament will give him a lot of experience for the future."
The organization also announced that assistant coaches Peter Pinizzotto and Youssef Dahha will be back for the 2007 season.
Pinizzotto joined the Impact in 2004, helping the team win the USL First Division championship that year. Previously, he had coached the Toronto Lynx for seven seasons.
Dahha also joined the club that season, as goalkeeper coach. He helped the club post the best defense in the league, with only 15 goals in 28 games, a team record first set in 2004, and tied in 2005 and 2006.
03 March 2007
The Montreal Impact announced Thursday the signing of Brazilian forward Frederico Moojen and defender Andres Arango to two-year contracts.
Moojen, 24, was the Impact's second-round pick in the 2006 United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division College Player Draft. During his college career Moojen tallied 59 goals and 133 points in three seasons with Clemson University and Lincoln Memorial University.
In 2005 and 2006, Moojen also finished top scorer of the USL Premier Development League (PDL), scoring 18 goals each season with the Cocoa Expos and the defunct Augusta Fireball. In 2006, he was also named PDL Player of the Year.
