After a year with Louisville City FC, Ben Newnam made what he called a “refreshing” move for 2017, signing this month with USL Western Conference club San Antonio FC.
Newnam, who featured mostly at left back while with LouCity, made one appearance in 2015 for Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids. Otherwise, the defender from North Carolina has played exclusively closer to the East coast.
“Being out West and experiencing new cities, new venues and places to play will be good,” Newnam said, according to San Antonio FC’s website. “I’m excited to get out of the East and see what the West has in store for me.”
Newnam, who has also played for Charlotte and Pittsburgh at the USL level, made 23 LouCity regular-season appearances for LouCity, starting 21 and playing a total of 1,964 minutes. He finished strong by registering assists in two of the club’s final three games.
“I think we’re putting together a great roster,” Newnam said of San Antonio’s squad. “As far as the back line goes, I’m very familiar with some of the players who are now on the team, we’ve crossed paths at one point or another throughout our careers.
“I’m very familiar with them and get along great with them, so I think the chemistry combined with the talent is going to bring great things for us on the defensive side of the ball.”
Top USL stories reviewed
The USL has spent this week counting down its top stories of the year, a few of which should draw interest from LouCity fans:
- At No. 8 is the impending launch of a new franchise in Nashville, another regional rival for LouCity coming in 2018.
- At No. 6 is use of a Video Assistant Referee, which came into play in August when LouCity and the New York Red Bulls II met in a battle atop the Eastern Conference table.
- At No. 4 is the introduction of additions anticipated to play in the Eastern Conference, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Ottawa Fury FC.
Green returning for the Hounds
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds announced this week they’ve re-signed their longest-tenured player, midfielder and defender Mike Green, to a new deal for 2017.
Green, who has been with the club since 2012, recorded three assists in 29 appearances last season for the Riverhounds. Coach Dave Brandt, who came in mid-season, plans to push Green for more in his sixth season in Pittsburgh.
“I challenged Michael right after the season to pick up his entire game and take it to a new level,” Brandt said. “I saw a completely different Michael Green from the one who was already a good player. … People are going to see some great things from him in 2017.”