Whitecaps sign Anthony Noreiga.
soccer365.com.
Vancouver Whitecaps Director of Soccer Operations, Bob Lenarduzzi, announced today that the Whitecaps have signed free agents Anthony Noreiga, pending international clearance, and John Jones through the 2007 season. In keeping with club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Noreiga, 24, was a three-year starter at George Mason scoring four goals and assisting on two in 52 games for the Patriots. In his senior campaign he was named the 2005 Colonial Athletic Association Defender of the Year and was named to the All-South Atlantic first team after the Patriots defence recorded a record five shutouts. Last January, the 6’4”, 175-pound centre back was drafted fourth overall by the Kansas City Wizards in the Major League Soccer (MLS) Supplementary Draft. Noreiga, a native of San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, has been a member of the Trinidad & Tobago National Team at the U-17, U20, U-23 and full international levels.
Jones, 32, enters his first season with the Caps having last played in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) in 2003 with the Des Moines Menace of the Premier Development League (PDL). As a Menace, the native of Folsom, California played 10 games scoring six goals and assisting on one in 731 minutes of play. Prior to Des Moines, Jones played four years in the USL First Division (then A-League) with the Charleston Battery, 1998 and 2002, and Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 2000 and 2001. In 1997 and 1999, the 6’0”, 170-pound defender/midfielder was a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS.
