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United GK Dykstra loaned to Charleston

Andrew Dykstra loaned to Charleston Battery for two games

Goalkeeper will return to the Black-and-Red next Wednesday

Washington, D.C. (April 13, 2012) – D.C. United announced today that goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra has been loaned to USL PRO side Charleston Battery for two games. He will join the Battery immediately and return to D.C. next Wednesday, April 18.

Dykstra will be available for the Battery’s games on April 14 versus the Richmond Kickers and April 17 versus the Charlotte Eagles.

Dykstra, a native of Woodbridge, Va., spent the 2011 season with the Charleston Battery, starting each of the 16 matches he played for the South Carolina side. The former Chicago Fire goalkeeper led USL PRO with a 0.98 goals-against average and 16 goals against, helping the Battery to an 8-6-2 record. For his efforts, Dykstra was awarded the club’s Betsy McAdams Newcomer of the Year award.

Hotspur add Five from VCU to PDL Roster

Fredericksburg, Va.— The Fredericksburg Hotspur are pleased to announce the signing of five players from Virginia Commonwealth University to its Premier Development League roster.

Rams juniors Romena Bowie and Nate Shiffman, along with sophomores Mario Herrera Meraz and Assane Keita and freshman Dennis Castillo, are the first college players to officially join the Hotspur for the 2012 season.  Bowie, Shiffman, and Meraz will occupy midfield positions, while Castillo and Keita will play critical roles in defense.

The Hotspur have already added former professional players Evans Wise, a Trinidad and Tobago international, and Grover Gibson, who played 14 years in Germany and will also serve as an assistant coach.

“I’m extremely excited to have them here. I’ve been searching for quality players and I was very fortunate to run into the VCU program,” Gibson said.

 Shiffman said their experience together with VCU will help the Hotspur team mesh well together more quickly.

“It’s going to be easy for us to play together and bring that chemistry onto this team,” Shiffman said. "The level of play will be very high with the other really talented players we already have.”

“That's the biggest reason I came here... to get better and to win,” said Castillo.
Gibson added that their familiarity with each other and the environment that the Hotspur program will provide should give the team an advantage over some of the other teams they will face.

“I think that should be very clutch to our program,” he said.

Fredericksburg is set to open its season on Sunday, May 13, at 5 p.m., when it visits the Northern Virginia Royals at Fairfax High School. The Hotspur will open their home campaign on Saturday, May 19, at 5:30 p.m., against the Virginia Beach Piranhas at the University of Mary Washington.

United sign Woodbridge native Andrew Dykstra

D.C. United Press Release:

D.C. United signs goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra

26-year-old a native of Woodbridge, Va.

Washington, D.C. (February 27, 2012) – D.C. United announced today that the club has signed goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra. The 26-year-old netminder joins the Black-and-Red having completed preseason camps in Florida and Arizona. Dykstra is currently with the team in Charleston, South Carolina, where United is competing in the Carolina Challenge Cup.

“We are excited to have added another young goalkeeper who has a bright future in MLS,” said United General Manager Dave Kasper. “Andrew has gained valuable experience in the past two years as a professional and we look forward to his contributions to our club.”

Dykstra, a native of Woodbridge, Va., spent the 2011 season with USL Pro team Charleston Battery, starting each of the 16 matches he played for the South Carolina side. The former Chicago Fire goalkeeper led the league with a 0.98 goals-against average and 16 goals against, helping the Battery to an 8-6-2 record. For his efforts, Dykstra was awarded the club’s Betsy McAdams Newcomer of the Year award.

Dykstra previously spent time with the Chicago Fire, after signing with the club in June of 2009.  He made 17 total appearances over the course of two seasons in Chicago. The former VCU goalie made his MLS debut with the Fire on March 27, 2010 in the season opener against New York Red Bulls. Dykstra finished the season with a 5-6-6 record, including five shutouts and an1.28 goals-against average.

Dykstra was a standout at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he played 73 matches over four seasons, totaling more than 6,500 minutes. The Woodbridge native earned All-CAA honors twice and finished his collegiate career with 18 shutouts.  

Name: Andrew Dykstra
Height: 6’4”Weight: 195
Jersey: TBD
Position: GK
Birthdate: January 2, 1986
Age: 26
Hometown: Woodbridge, VA
Birthplace: Honolulu, HI
Previous Club: Charleston Battery (USL Pro)
Acquired: Signed on February 27, 2012