Chandler Hoffman, Louisville City FC’s leading scorer last season, signed on this week with Real Monarchs SLC, the USL affiliate of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake.
The UCLA product Hoffman has scored 31 goals in three seasons in the USL, including 14 with LouCity.
After netting his then-league-leading 13th goal in July at Wilmington, the striker’s production slowed. He scored once more during the regular season and chipped in a goal in the playoffs.
LouCity and Hoffman mutually agreed to part ways heading into 2017.
“As we evaluated our club in 2016, we had a need for a top-flight goal-scorer and to add players with professional experience to our roster,” said Real Salt Lake’s general manager, Craig Waibel. “Chandler Hoffman has been a consistent scorer in this league that we feel can raise our level of play.”
Hoffman is the second former LouCity player to sign on with a member of the USL’s Western Conference for 2017, joining Enrique Montano, a defender bound for Sacramento Republic FC in his home state of California.
More major offseason moves
With an announcement this week that it has Irving Herrera under contract for 2017, the Charlotte Independence have locked up a USL MVP finalist that led his club in goals (9) and assists (5) last season.
Other stars are on the move within the Eastern Conference, however, with former Rochester Rhinos striker Steevan Dos Santos among them. Dos Santos has signed with USL newcomer Ottawa Fury FC for next year after scoring 21 goals in 48 games across all competitions the last two seasons.
“Our main priority this recruitment season was to find a dominant forward to start taking advantage of the many chances we have been creating and in Steevan, we got our man,” said Ottawa head coach Paul Dalglish. “We are excited to see how many goals he can score for Fury FC.”
Independence coach Mike Jeffries, meanwhile, labeled Herrera “the engine of this team.” His signing was accompanied by his brother, Alex Martinez, who’s looking forward to a breakout 2017 after having to recover from a broken foot last season.
In the Western Conference — but for a club expected to be on Louisville City FC’s schedule next year — Saint Louis FC and new coach Preki added defender Matt Sheldon and midfielder Sebastian Dalgaard.
Dalgaard, who most recently played for OKC Energy FC, is also a known scoring threat.
“Competing against Sebastian the past two seasons, he was always someone that we spoke about in our scouting reports,” said Saint Louis FC General Manager Jeremy Alumbaugh. “Sebastian has an ability to take players off of the dribble as well as combine with players to get to goal. He has proven to be a dangerous attacking player in the USL and we feel that he has an even bigger upside to his game.”
FC Cincinnati reloading
LouCity’s River Cities Cup rival announced the return of 15 players from a roster that advanced the club to the USL playoffs in its first season. Missing from the original news were both league MVP Sean Okoli and Goalkeeper of the Year Mitch Hildebrandt. But on Thursday, the club also announced a deal to bring back Hildebrandt for another season.
“I couldn’t be happier about staying in Cincinnati,” Hildebrandt said. “I’m very excited about 2017 and the team that we are bringing back. The offseason will be a more relaxed one now that we’ve finalized things. With regards to training, there are things I have on the list to work on but for now, I will take the time to rest and rejuvenate so I can come back in February ready to help the team build off of 2016.”
Others returning for sure include Austin Berry, a University of Louisville product, along with standouts Corben Bone, Jimmy McLaughlin and Omar Cummings.
FC Cincinnati has not updated the contract status of Okoli, who totaled 16 goals and succeeded former LouCity striker Matt Fondy as a Golden Boot winner.
Kickers working on stadium deal
The Richmond Kickers have submitted a proposal to lease their home field, City Stadium, for 40 more years while alloting for $20 million in upgrades, the club announced. According to RichmondBizsense.com, the Richmond City Council will consider the deal at its Dec. 12 meeting.
“This is a great opportunity for the Kickers to make City Stadium our permanent home and to improve the stadium for the city, the neighborhood, the Red Army (the team’s fan group) and the entire soccer community,” said Vernon Inge, president of the Kickers’ professional team. “We have big plans and we want everyone to be a part of it.”
The Kickers have played at 22,000-seat City Stadium since 1995. Upgrades would include all facets of the facility, starting with landscaping, seating and field improvements.
