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Cougars agree to terms with McDougall and Chantel
Monday Oct 08, 2007
Stockton, CA – Oct. 8, 2007 – The California Cougars, of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), announce today that the team has agreed to contract terms with second year goalkeeper Matt McDougall and fourth year defender Marcos Chantel for the 2007-2008 season. Per team policy, terms of the deals will not be released.
Twenty-four year-old Matt McDougall enters his second season with the Cougars. McDougall started in goal seven of nine games played last season before being taken off the active roster by head coach Bernie Lilavois.
“When I first came on board we had three keepers, so I had to choose one to take off our roster and I chose to release him,” said Lilavois. “I told him to work hard and we would see about next year. He took on the challenge and he stepped up and performed beyond expectations. He was the MVP of the PASL Summer national tournament and now we are bringing him as our second keeper this year. He's the perfect backup for Sanaldo. He’s learning and should be a great keeper in this league.”
McDougall finished the 2006-2007 season with an even 3-3 won less record. He finished the season with a points allowed average of 14.28 and saved 84 total shots against 134 shots faced. His best game came in a 12 -10 Cougars victory over the Detroit Ignition on December 29, 2006 at the Stockton Arena. McDougall played in goal for all 60 minutes and blocked 10 of 15 shots faced. He led the Stockton Pumas to the Premiere Arena Soccer League summer national championship last July. McDougall is a 2006 Sacramento State University graduate; he majored in Business with an emphasis in Marketing.
Brazilian born Marcos Chantel played in 17 games for the Cougars during the 2006-2007 season. Chantel quickly became a two-way staple for the Cougars, after signing with California on December 29, 2006. The 32 year-old defender came to California as a forward but the Cougars quickly took notice of Chantel’s great speed and decided to shift him into a defensive role.
“Marcos is a big, strong, versatile guy,” said Lilavois. “We’ll use him primarily out of our backfield for this season. I think of him as an attacking defender. He’ll play back but at the same time he has the ability to be a target up top. He’ll make the full transition this season from a forward to a defender.”
Chantel set a career high with 14 blocks in the 2006-2007 season. His previous career high was six in the 2004-05 season with the Baltimore Blast. He scored seven total points for the 2006-2007 year, including three assists and two goals. Chantel scored both of his two goals against the Philadelphia KiXX in two games. His first goal of the season came on February 7, 2007 in Philadelphia and his second came on February 17, 2007 in Stockton.
The Cougars open their regular season on October 27, 2007 in Chicago against the Storm. California has their home opener on November 10, 2007 against the expansion La Raza de Monterrey. Season tickets are available call (209) 373-1550 for more information.
About the California Cougars:
The California Cougars are a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). The MISL is a single-entity organization that features a coast to coast presence across North America including soccer talent representing players from 31 different countries. The Cougars made their competitive debut in November of 2005, after being announced on February 28, 2004. The team makes its home at the state-of-the-art Stockton Arena, in Stockton, California. The Stockton Arena opened in December 2005, and is an integral part of the cities developing waterfront district. For additional information please contact Greg Young, Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting, by phone: 209-373-1559, or by email: gyoung@californiacougars.net. You can also visit the Cougars’ official website at http://www.californiacougars.net.
About The MISL:
The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) was launched in August of 2001 as a six-team single-entity professional indoor soccer circuit. The MISL is comprised of a group of investors who hold ownership shares in the League, participate in a management committee, and serve as MISL team operators. The MISL League Office is located within the greater New York City metropolitan area in Westport, CT, and is managed by the League’s Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Steve Ryan. The Major Indoor Soccer League represents the major league of professional indoor soccer, featuring the finest indoor soccer players from 32 countries around the world. The nine MISL clubs competing in the 2007-08 season are the Baltimore Blast, California Cougars, Chicago Storm, 2007 championship finalist Detroit Ignition, Milwaukee Wave, and the defending MISL Champion Philadelphia KiXX, with the addition of three expansion clubs, Monterrey La Raza, New Jersey Ironmen, and the Orlando Sharks. The MISL represents the major league of professional indoor soccer, featuring the finest indoor soccer players from around the world. The 2006-07 MISL season featured six teams with the debut of the Detroit Ignition. The MISL Monterrey club, the New Jersey Ironmen, and the Orlando Sharks are set to join the competition for the 2007-08 season. The MISL is dedicated to providing its fans with outstanding entertainment at affordable prices, offering sports entertainment for a fraction of the cost associated with other major league sporting events.
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