Soccer prospects vie for spot with Cedar Rapids Rampage United outdoor team

CEDAR RAPIDS – A month from the debut of professional outdoor soccer in Cedar Rapids, the Rampage United took a look at some new faces at their new home.

Approximately 40 prospective players attended two days of open player tryouts, which concluded Sunday at Coe College's Clark Field.

'We got a chance to see some good talent, local talent,” Rampage United Coach Hewerton Moreira said. 'There seems to be a lot of young talent in here, in the city and in the state because of all the colleges. It's been a good weekend.”

The Rampage United will be part of the 12-team Premier League of America and will be aligned divisionally with two teams from Minnesota and three in Wisconsin. Each team will play a 10-game regular season beginning in mid-May, with Clark Field hosting all Rampage United games.

'The venue is beautiful,” Moreira said. 'This is a great fit for us. There's a great amount of bleachers for people to be watching the game, a grass area for families to bring their kids and have fun by watching the game.”

Three players from the Rampage indoor team – Gordy Gurson, Bobby Hurwitz and Alex Tozer – signed to play for the outdoor team March 28. The signing of nine more players who spent time with the indoor team is expected this week – Robert Acosta, Alexis Apodaca, Diego Bobadilla, Sam Guernsey, Alex Megson, Antonello Paradiso, Patrizio Paradiso and former Metro preps Charlie Bales (Cedar Rapids Xavier) and Jacob Johnson (Washington). Most were on the field Saturday and Sunday to assist Moreira with player evaluations.

'That was our goal from day one,” Moreira said. 'To maintain the same core for the outdoor than is for indoor. It's a good way to have a chemistry.”

Moreira will select approximately 30 players to attend training camp, which begins April 26. The roster will be trimmed to 22 or 24 through three weeks of preseason play. The pool of available players has expanded both locally and nationally thanks to the exposure from the first season of indoor soccer, which concluded in late February.

'I have been contacted from a lot of players that play in different cities in the MASL (Major Arena Soccer League) asking, ‘Can I come be part of the outdoor team?'” Moreira said. 'The word out there is that the organization has been doing a great job. Very organized. Very professional.”

The regular season begins May 14 at Milwaukee and the first regular-season home game is two weeks later against Minnesota United.

'Our goal is to come strong this season,” Moreira said. 'The level of competition is going to be very high and it's going to be great for the fans to come and watch and have fun and support us.”

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com