CONTEXT
• In its last game, the Impact shut out the Quebec University in Montreal (UQAM) Citadins 1-0, Wednesday, following a goal from the National Training Centre forward Massimo Di Ioia (80th).
STREAKS
• The Impact is after its fourth consecutive win in pre-season play after picking up victories against the Lac St-Louis Lakers (6-0), the Montreal Univerisity Carabins (2-0) and the UQAM Citadins (1-0).
• Forward Daniel Antoniuk, one of the Impact’s new acquisitions, has picked up at least a point in each of the team’s first three pre-season games — he had a two-goal game against the Lakers, scored the insurance goal against the Carabins and had an assist on the game-winning goal against the Citadins.
• The Impact will be looking for a fourth straight shutout in pre-season play. Goalkeepers Greg Sutton and Andrew Weber shared the workload in the first two games, while Weber and Gerry Argento played in last Wednesday’s match-up.
NOTES
• So far, 22 players are under contract with the Montreal Impact for the 2006 season, out of a maximum possible of 26.
• Forwards Rachid Madkour and Massimo Di Ioia, as well as midfielders Ibrahim Baldeh and Alpha Bah are still trying to earn a spot on the team.
• Olivier Babineau, Pierre-Rudolph Mayard and Christian Nunez, youth players from the National Training Centre, have left the Impact training camp in order to join the Under-20 Canadian National Team at the 24th Porto International tournament in Portugal.
• Forward Joel Bailey has yet to join the Impact at training camp because he is playing indoors with the Baltimore Blast. He is currently in negotiations with the Impact.
• Goalkeeper Andrew Weber, midfielders Leonardo Di Lorenzo, Kirk Wilson and Simon Gatti, as well as forwards Mauricio Salles and Daniel Antoniuk are the Impact’s new acquisitions.
• During the off-season, the Impact signed new deals with goalkeepers Greg Sutton and Gerry Argento, defenders Gabriel Gervais and David Fronimadis, midfielders Patrick Leduc, Antonio Ribeiro, Masahiro Fukasawa and Mesut Mert, as well as forwards Mauro Biello and Darko Kolic.
• Goalkeeper Andrew Olivieri, defender André Hainault, midfielder Adrian Cann and David Di Placido, as well as forwards Eduardo Sebrango, Charles Gbeke and Carlos Garcia have left the club since the end of last season.
COMMENTS
Impact head coach Nick De Santis: "We would like to end our series of pre-season games on a positive note before leaving for Florida next week. We have a good idea of the roster we will have this season but we are also still in a preparation phase. These pre-season games help our players regain their rhythm.”
NEXT GAME
• The team will fly off to Florida on April 18 to continue its training camp and prepare for its season opener, set for Sunday, April 23 at 4 pm against Miami F.C. The Impact will train at the Sunrise Hilton Sports Complex in Fort Lauderdale.
• After facing the USL expansion team, which has recently signed Brazilian great Romario, the Impact will travel to Puerto Rico for its second regular-season game, April 30 against the Islanders.
• Montreal’s 13th home opener in club history at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex will take place Sunday, May 21 at 4 pm against the Minnesota Thunder.
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 27)
