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Aterado Highlights New Crop of Cougars Signings
Wednesday Oct 28, 2009
Stockton, CA – Oct. 28, 2009 – The California Cougars, of the Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL-Pro), have agreed to contract terms with midfielder Majell Aterado, defender Lee Pricer, goalkeeper Santos Arteaga and former Los Angeles Galaxy forward Isaias Bardales, it was announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deals will not be disclosed.
Aterado, Pricer and Arteaga were all members of the championship roster that won the PASL Championship on March 15, 2009 at Stockton Arena. Bardales is entering his first season in Stockton.
Bardales, 30, was a first round (11th overall) selection in the 2001 Major League Soccer SuperDraft by the Los Angeles Galaxy. He appeared in 12 games for Los Angeles, started once and scored one goal during his MLS rookie season. He was sent on loan from the Galaxy to the Syracuse Salty Dogs of the A-League in 2003, but was waived at the end of the season. He most recently played in the USL Premier Development League for the San Diego Gauchos (2006) and the San Jose Frogs (2007). The upcoming 2009-10 season will be his first in the PASL-Pro. He attended San Jose State University and signed a Project-40 contract with the Galaxy in 2001.
Aterado was fourth in goals (26), sixth in assists (18) and tied for fourth in points (44) among all Cougars players last season. The 28 year old midfielder had seven multi-goal games and three hat-tricks. He also finished with 15 blocks over his 19 overall games, fifth most on the club.
The 2009-10 season will be Aterado’s third with the Cougars. He was originally signed on Feb. 14, 2008 while the club was a member of the now defunct Major Indoor Soccer League. He attended Santa Rosa Junior College and the University of West Florida. He was a two time NJCAA All-American selection during his two years with SRJC and was a member of Santa Rosa’s 2002 state championship team.
Aterado was originally drafted by the Cougars in the 2007 MISL Supplemental Draft and spent a season with the Stockton Pumas, of the Premier Arena Soccer League, before his promotion to the pro club at the end of the 2007-08 Cougars’ season. Like Aterado, both Pricer and Arteaga have spent time with California’s minor league teams and have made the transition to the pro roster.
Pricer played with the Turlock Express (California’s current Premier League affiliate) last season before signing with the Cougars last January. He played in three league games last season and recorded three blocks. Pricer played two seasons at Ohlone Junior College before transferring to Fresno State. He played two seasons at Fresno State and was an All-American in 1999 for the Bulldogs.
Arteaga spent all of last year with the Turlock Express, but did contend for the starting goalkeeper position last season before Jesus Molina became the teams starting keeper. Arteaga is from Modesto and will back up Molina during the 2009-10 season.
The Cougars begin their fifth consecutive season of professional indoor soccer at Stockton Arena on November 8 with a friendly versus the “Stars of Mexico.” Individual tickets are available through the Alpine Meats Box Office at Stockton Arena, by calling (209) 373-1700 and by visiting www.stocktontickets.com.
Season and group ticket specials are available through the Cougars office by calling (209) 373-1550. More information regarding the November 8 match and 2009-10 season can be found at www.californiacougars.net.
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