Americans announce more roster additions

The Memphis Americans have added nine players to its rosters as both the men’s and women’s teams prepare for home openers against the Columbus Rapids on Sunday, Dec. 26 at 3:30 p.m. at Landers Center in Southaven.

“We’re just weeks away from the first match of the National Indoor Soccer League’s inaugural season and we cannot wait,” said Andrew Haines, Memphis Americans co-owner and president. “The turf arrived last month, we announced our home match dates and continue to add talent to both rosters. It just keeps getting better and more real as we inch closer to Dec. 26.”

Men’s team additions:

• Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Ronald Akinsehinwa moved to Hernando at a young age. He played high school soccer at DeSoto Central High School and played collegiately at Itawamba Community College at the winger and outside back positions.
• Kevin Bernal brings on-the-field and Major League Soccer coaching experience to the Memphis Americans. The former New York Red Bulls coach once played club soccer for Golden Touch and high school soccer in White Plains, New York.
• Jonathan Boggus played defender for Delta State University from 2010-2014. Prior to playing collegiately, he spent time with various prestigious clubs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. 
• Goalkeeper Matthew Klinck played soccer at Southaven High School before joining the collegiate ranks at Delta State University. The Hernando native brings a great deal of experience to the team as he has played the sport since age 6.
• Memphis native Cesar Ramirez grew up playing club soccer for various teams across the Mid-South. In doing so, he was exposed to experienced coaches who helped hone his skills and develop him into a talented player. He spends most of his playing time at the midfielder and forward positions.
• Canadian Dan Rodman brings more than two decades of experience to the Memphis Americans. Over the years, he has spent time with several teams, including Coastal FC, Capilano University Men’s Soccer and Christian Brothers University Men’s Soccer, among others. Rodman plays winger and forward, and currently resides in Byhalia.

Women’s team additions:

• Angel Hailey is a Southaven High School graduate. Hailey played collegiate soccer at Northwest Mississippi Community College as a goalkeeper. In 48 games, she accrued 323 saves, breaking the college’s previous record of 255. She then went on to play for the University of Louisiana-Monroe and currently attends the University of Montevallo. The former Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society member received Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges All State honors and was named to the MACJC All-Star Team in 2018.
• Kelsey Keown has been playing the sport since age 4. She led her Atlanta, Georgia-based high school team to regional, state and national championships as a center midfielder.
• Lauren Odino-Draughon hails from Dallas, Texas, and brings more than 30 years of experience to the Memphis Americans. She played collegiately at Iowa State University, where she excelled early and was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, Cyclone Newcomer of the Year and the Cyclone Excellence Award Winner as a result. In 2014, she spent a season with the Des Moines Menaces and played for the Memphis Lobos from 2016-2018, both of which are part of the Women’s Premier Soccer League.

The Memphis Americans’ complete schedule with start times, opponents and away matches, as well as full team rosters will be finalized in the coming weeks. Individual match tickets for the Memphis Americans inaugural season will be available for purchase on Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. at www.memphisamericans.com.

DeSoto County News Service