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U23s complete roster additions for 2017 campaign

By Energy FC Communications, 05/05/17, 10:00AM CDT

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The Energy FC U23s added defenders Jon Bell and Fernando Machado and midfielders Christian Okeke and Caio Ruiz to the roster, head coach Chris Spendlove announced today.  These additions bring the total number of players on the roster to 29.

Bell recently completed his first year of college at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. As a freshman, he appeared in 15 matches, started 14 and collected three assists.  Prior to joining the Retrievers, he participated in training camp with the U.S. U-20 National Team with FC Dallas assignee Coy Craft.  Bell is a product of the D.C United Academy. 

Machado just graduated from Oklahoma Wesleyan University where he played on the soccer team for two years.  As a member of the Eagles for the last two seasons, he’s appeared in 41 matches, scored 12 goals and added an assist.  During the 2016 campaign, the native of Sao Paulo, Brazil tied for the team lead with nine goals.

Okeke recently finished his collegiate career with Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas.  During two seasons with the Mustangs, he appeared in 42 matches, scored 16 goals and 10 assists.  His nine goals in 2016 led the team and he tied for the team lead in points with 22.  Prior to playing at MSU, he played two seasons at Bradley University where he appeared in 43 matches, scored eight goals and added 12 assists. 

Ruiz also recently graduated from Oklahoma Wesleyan where he played the last two seasons with the soccer team.  The Sao Paulo, Brazil native appeared in 38 matches over the last two seasons, scored six goals and added six assists. 

Bell, Okeke, Machado and Ruiz join midfielders Josh Taylor, Noah Keats, Eric Leonard, Luka Prpa, Nick Hague and  Timo Mehlich; forwards Garrett McLaughlin, Ben Conway, Luc Fatton, Julio Moncada, Will Roberts, Jordan Haynes, Sven Koenig and Matthew Puig; defenders Mark Lindstrom, Ty Mobley, Tam Dimario, Jacob Vancompernolle, Prosper Figbe, Hugo Rhoads and R.J. Roberts; goalkeepers Austen Parker, Eric Dick, Ryan Krutz and Cooper Clark as players currently on the U23 roster for the 2017 season.

The U23s open their training camp May 6 and play their first match of the season in the 1st round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, May 10 on the road against the Tulsa Athletic at 7:30 p.m.