Lebo Moloto, who played in college for Kentucky’s Lindsey Wilson College, is on the move from the USL Eastern to Western Conference this season, as the Swope Park Rangers announced the club has signed the former Pittsburgh Riverhounds midfielder.
Moloto joined the Riverhounds for the 2015 USL season and made 51 appearances for the club over two seasons, scoring 7 goals and adding 8 assists. He earned USL Player of the Week honors on Sept. 22, 2015, after scoring in back-to-back games.
“Lebo has very good vision and he’s a very technical player,” said Swope Park Rangers head coach Nikola Popovic. “He’ll be a very good addition for us and he has the quality to achieve a lot of success in this organization.”
Moloto cut his teeth in Kentucky having attended Lindsey Wilson in Columbia, Ky. There, he registered 42 goals and 20 assists and was named the NAIA National Championship’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player as a freshman in 2009. The Blue Raiders won another title with Moloto in 2011.
Mansaray off to Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati this week announced it has acquired U.S. U20 forward Victor Mansaray on loan from Seattle Sounders FC for the 2017 USL season.
Mansaray was named the No. 1 player in USLSoccer.com’s 2016 20 Under 20 list and finished the 2016 season with five goals and two assists in 19 appearances for Seattle Sounders FC 2.
“We are looking forward to working with him and accelerating his development,” said FC Cincinnati Coach John Harkes.
He is currently with the U.S. U20 Men’s National Team in Orlando, Fla., at a training camp that will help determine the squad for the 2017 CONCACAF U20 Championship in Costa Rica.
Mansaray made history as the youngest Homegrown signing in Seattle Sounders FC history, signing a contract in 2014 as a 17-year-old. He was also the youngest player to appear in a fixture for the Sounders at 18 years and 34 days in 2015.
Renfro returns to Independence
The Charlotte Independence have re-signed goalkeeper Kyle Renfro for the 2017 season. Renfro had previously played in the USL for the Harrisburg City Islanders and Charlotte Eagles, and served as back-up for the Independence last season.
“It’s very difficult to come in as a goalkeeper knowing that you may not play during the season and maintain a really strong training mentality,” said Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries. “[To] work hard, to push yourself and the guys around you, it’s difficult, but Kyle was able to do that last year.”
Renfro has also made an impact off the field for the Independence. Last season he led the club’s first goalkeeper camp that allowed top youth goalkeepers in the region a chance to sharpen their skills.
Rhinos add former Wilmington standout
The Rochester Rhinos announced on Wednesday the signing of former Wilmington Hammerheads FC midfielder Stefan Defregger.
Defregger spent the past two seasons with the Hammerheads, who will not play at the USL level this year, and made 37 appearances for the club. The 24-year-old recorded 2 goals and 4 assists for the club in that span, and also helped the team reach the Fourth Round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
A native of Gilford, N.H., Defregger competed collegiately at Dartmouth College, where he helped the Big Green claim the Ivy League championship in 2014 in his senior season. Defregger was also named to the All-Ivy League Second Team in the same season.