The Salt Lake Sting soccer club announced the signing of four local players Thursday as well as the inclusion of the team into a brand-new national soccer league.
The Sting franchise was created last fall as an expansion team in the 11-team Western Soccer League. Now the WSL will merge with the American Soccer League to form the 22-team American Professional Soccer League."This is the most significant development in United States soccer," said Sting general manager Mark Hugo. "It will be the first time the U.S. has had a truly (American) professional soccer league."
Four local players who survived tryouts involving nearly 200 aspiring players are Shawn Lockwood, Matt Larrabee, Mike Knipps and Steve Senglemann.
Lockwood is a 19-year-old who was a three-time all-stater for Skyline High. He will play a forward position.
Larrabee, 18, is a fullback/halfback, who starred at Taylorsville High. He was been on the Utah Select Team for the past six years.
Knipps is a goalkeeper who has played for BYU the past two years. The 23-year-old is from Golden, Colorado and played on the Olympic Development Team there.
Sengelmann is the oldest of the four at 24 and has the highest credentials. He played on the U.S. National Team in 1985 and '86 and for the L.A. Kickers in 1987-88. He has also played in Germany and in three U.S. Olympic Festivals.
The Sting opens its season April 13 at New Mexico. The home opener will be April 21 against the San Francisco Blackhawks.
Other teams on the Sting schedule include Seattle (Storm), Portland (Timbers), Colorado (Foxes), California (Emperors), L.A. Heat, Arizona (Condors), San Diego (Nomads) and (Real) Santa Barbara.
The "Eastern" teams in the new APSL include Albany (Capitals), Boston (Bolts), New Jersey (Eagles), Penn-Jersey (Spirit), Maryland (Bays), Washington (Stars), Washington (Diplomats), Orlando (Lions), Tampa Bay (Rowdies), Ft. Lauderdale (Strikers) and Miami (Sharks).