ORLANDO, Fla.- March 11, 2016 - Orlando City B has bolstered its squad with the acquisition of Orlando City SC’s 2016 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft third-round selection midfielder/defender Antonio Matarazzo, striker Keegan Smith, and versatile attacker Alejandro Garcia, as the Club nears the start of its 2016 United Soccer League (USL) season.
"They are three players that have come out of the college game. I feel they've all got good attributes and have potential to be good players. I'm delighted to sign all three," said OCB Head Coach Anthony Pulis.
Prior to being selected by Orlando City SC in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, Matarazzo enjoyed a successful four-year career in the Ivy League with Columbia University. In his senior season, Matarazzo was named to the All-Ivy League second team – the third all-conference honor on his career – as he finished second on the team in minutes (1,410).
In four seasons with Columbus, Matarazzo featured in 49 matches – playing a crucial role for his team in both midfield and defense.
“Antonio is a guy that caught my eye at the combine, he can play in a number of positions – he plays center back, left back, center midfield – technically vey good, obviously he has aspects that he needs to improve but he has potential,” added Pulis.
A 2016 MLS SuperDraft second-round selection by Montreal Impact, Smith joins OCB having featured the past four years for the University of San Diego, where he made a total of 52 appearances, scoring 13 goals and notching six assists, while receiving numerous individual recognitions.
Before becoming the first player drafted from the West Coast Conference, the six-foot tall forward built an impressive record with the Toreros in 2015, leading the team in goals with seven, adding three assists and helping the team advance to the West Coast Conference championship – earning WCC Player of the Year, All-WCC First Team and NSCAA Far Wet All-Region Second Team honors.
The 22-year old attacker also received an All-WCC Honorable Mention in his sophomore year, when he was San Diego’s second-highest top-scorer with four.
As a youngster, Smith had valuable experience on the international stage, featuring with the United States’ Men National Team U15 and U17 sides.
"Keegan caught my eye at the MLS combine and when he left Montreal we jumped at the chance to bring him in to train with us. He is a forward that holds the ball up well, makes intelligent runs and is technically good. There are aspects of his game he needs to work on but I think he can be a good player for us," added Pulis.
García arrives to Orlando following a standout 2015 season with the University of Cincinnati, where lead the team with 10 goals (third in the American Athletic Conference and 36th nationally) and registered two assists in 36 games played, receiving Second Team All-American Athletic Conference and Second Team All-Ohio honors.
The versatile attacker joined the Bearcats in 2014, seeing action in all 18 fixtures of the season, netting three goals and notching two assists. The Bakersfield, Calif., native, played his previous two seasons at Darton State College, catapulting them to be ranked first in the nation in most of 2012 and being named National Junior College Athletic Association All-American in 2013, following a campaign with 18 goals and seven assists.
“Alejandro was one that I saw last year at the University of Cincinnati, we brought him in for preseason, did very well so we decided to give him a contract. He is a good footballer, needs to improve physically but he is one that I think would fit in well with the way we want to play,” Pulis concluded.
Transaction: Orlando City B Acquires Antonio Matarazzo, Keegan Smith and Alejandro García
Name: Antonio Matarazzo
Height: 6’4
Weight: 185 lbs.
BirthDate: April 27, 1993
Birthplace: Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Citizenship: United States of America
Name: Keegan Smith
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 175 lbs.
BirthDate: June 9, 1993
Birthplace: Temecula, California
Citizenship: United States of America
Name: Alejandro García
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 165 lbs.
BirthDate: March 30, 1994
Birthplace: Bakersfield, California
Citizenship: United States of America
