CLEVELAND, Ohio – Former Cleveland State University men's soccer student-athlete Sergio Manesio signed a professional contract with Ottawa Fury FC the organization announced Wednesday morning.
The Fury will be competing in their inaugural season in the United Soccer League (USL) in 2017 and will be one of three teams competing in the league for the first time. The USL is the largest professional soccer league in the world with 30 teams in 20 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. League-wide attendance increased 33% in the 2016 season, and the league set a new attendance record.
In December the Fury announced a partnership with the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer (MLS).
OFFICIAL RELEASE FROM OTTAWA FURY FC
Manesio was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and was selected All-Ohio and All-Horizon League First Team in 2016, earning each of those honors for the second consecutive season. Manesio became the first Viking, and only the second player from any Horizon League school, to win Defensive Player of the Year honors more than once. He wore the captain's armband for the Vikings again in 2016 and was a rock in his spot in central defense. Manesio was a big reason why Cleveland State led the Horizon League in goals against average in the regular season, as CSU posted a 0.83 goals against mark in his time on the pitch.
Manesio led the Vikings to five shutouts on the 2016 campaign and helped CSU allow no more than one goal in all but two of the matches he started. Manesio, who was never subbed out of a match last season, also added three goals on the season, two of which were game-winning strikes. The defender's impact cannot be seen in statistics alone. He showcased brilliant anticipation of what the opponent might try to do next, often interrupting opposition attacks before they could truly begin, and also rarely lost a tackle.
Manesio was also recognized multiple times this season for his all-around excellence not only on the field but in the classroom and community as well. He was named one of 10 national finalists for the Senior CLASS Award and was named to the Horizon League Academic All-League Team for the second straight season.
The Fury compete in USL's Eastern Conference and will play 32 matches over 30 weeks during the 2017 regular season. Ottawa Fury FC's first training session will take place Feb. 6 while its first preseason fixture will occur Feb. 17. The regular season will open March 24 with the complete league schedule expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The Fury play their home matches in the 24,000 seat TD Place Stadium, which is located just south of downtown Ottawa.
In what was just its second season of existence, the Fury were the 2015 Fall Season winners of the North American Soccer League and advanced to the final of Soccer Bowl 2015.
Cleveland State has recently begun its spring training sessions under new head coach Kirk Harwat.
