UC star Omar Cummings among newest additions to roster
CINCINNATI (January 21, 2016) – FC Cincinnati, the new professional soccer franchise majority owned by Cincinnati businessman and philanthropist Carl Lindner III, today announced six more players to its roster in preparation for its inaugural season which begins in March.
Heading this class is forward Omar Cummings, who has both MLS and international experience. A former Cincinnati State and University of Cincinnati star, Cummings was drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. During his MLS career, Cummings had a career high 12 assists in 2009, scored a career-high 14 goals in 2010 and was named to his first MLS All-Star team in 2011. He also represented Jamaica in international competition and was a member of the 2010 Jamaican team that won the Digicel Caribbean Cup.
“I am very excited to be back in Cincinnati playing soccer,” said Cummings. “Cincinnati has always been a second home for me and it’s a dream for me to play for FC Cincinnati.”
Also joining Cummings on the FC Cincinnati roster:
- Harrison Delbridge, 23, of Sydney, Australia, a defender who played soccer at Appalachian State. He was named NSCAA Scholar All-American, All Southern Conference and was a Southern Conference All-Tournament selection in 2011. Delbridge signed his first professional contract in March 2014 with the Sacramento Republic of the USL, and signed in February 2015 with the Portland Timbers 2, also of the USL.
- Antoine Hoppenot, 25, a forward from Paris, France. Hoppenot played soccer at Princeton University, where he was first team All-Ivy in 2009 through 2011, Ivy League Player of the Year in 2010 and NSCAA Second Team All-American in 2010. The Philadelphia Union selected Hoppenot in the third round in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft. He has spent the last two years between the Union and the Harrisburg City Islanders, reaching the USL Finals in 2014.
- Jimmy McLaughlin, 22, a midfielder from Malvern, Pennsylvania, played soccer at Colgate University, where he was Patriot League Rookie of the Year. He signed with the Philadelphia Union in 2011 and made his professional debut in the U.S. Open Cup in 2012. He made his first appearance in MLS play on October 24, 2012. He was loaned to the Harrisburg City Islanders for the 2014 season.
- Omar Mohamed, 19, a midfielder from Columbus, Ohio, who played soccer at Jackson College in 2015. His first professional contract is with FC Cincinnati, becoming the youngest player on the roster.
- Alvaro Anton Ripoll, 21, a midfielder from Madrid, Spain, has played domestically for Osasuna Junior A in Division of Honor, Alcorcon B in Third Division and U.D. Alzira in Third Division.
This group joins the initial class of 11 players who were signed to the FC Cincinnati roster in December.
“This second class of players will be a valuable complement to our team,” said Head Coach John Harkes, a veteran of Major League Soccer and the U.S. National Team. “Having Omar Cummings come back to Cincinnati to play will be an exciting addition for our fans.”
FC Cincinnati will join the United Soccer League (USL) and play its season from March through September. Season tickets are on sale and available atwww.FCCincinnati.com.
The Club will join the USL’s East Division as the league’s 26th club. Rivals in the USL will include: Harrisburg City Islanders, Louisville City FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, New York Red Bulls II, and Saint Louis FC, among others.
