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Cougars agree to terms with draft picks Kupono Low and Pedro Lupercio
Thursday Oct 18, 2007
Stockton, CA – Oct. 18, 2007 – The California Cougars, of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), announce today that the team has agreed to contract terms with midfielder Kupono Low and defender Pedro Lupercio.
Low a Fremont native was selected as the fourth pick in the first round of the 2007 MISL Supplemental Draft by the Cougars. He spent the off-season playing for the Carolina RailHawks of the United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1). The 28 year-old defender played in all 28 games for expansion Carolina in 2007. Low finished the year tied for 11th in the league with 16 points on six goals and four assists. Low was named to the USL-1 All-League Second team in his first season, fellow Cougar Brian Farber was also named to that team.
“Low had a great year with the Carolina RailHawks,” Cougars’ head coach Bernie Lilavois said. “I expect him to have an immediate impact on the team. He will be the answer we need to the loss of Vicente Figueroa for the season with his knee injury. Low is a defensive minded guy, but you look at his stats in the USL and you see that he has good attacking abilities. He wasn’t around for all of training camp but he will adjust quickly to our game.”
Low began his professional career with the California Gold in 2003. He then played for the Syracuse Salty Dogs of the A-League in 2004 with current Cougar Ryan Hall. Low spent the 2005 season in Scotland playing for the Ireland first division Champions, the Sligo Rovers. Low earned All-Ireland “Best 11” Team of the year. He returned to the United States in 2006 and played for the Virginia Beach Mariners. Low spent his collegiate years at Fresno State from 1999-2002. He was selected to the 2002 PAC-10 All Conference First Team. As co-captain in 2001, he tallied 12 points, including 4 goals. He recorded 46 shots in 2000 where he started and played in 16 matches. In 1999 he started in all 20 games and was named to the ALL-WAC second team. 
The Cougars made 22 year-old Pedro Lupercio their second pick in the 2007 MISL College Draft, he was the 11th overall selection. The Dixon native makes the move from college midfielder to defender in the MISL. Lupercio was an offensive standout while at Sacramento State. In his 69 matches played Lupercio accumulated 10 career assists, ranking him fifth in Division I. program history. In 2005, Lupercio scored two goals and added two assists, while earning all-conference accolades.
“Pedro is a young guy in this league but he can play,” said Lilavois. “He’s got great energy on the field and is composed on the ball. He’s another guy for us that is a non stop worker and just keeps getting better and better each day. He’s a defender but we’ll also use him as an offensive attacker.”
Lupercio has played in all three preseason exhibition games this season. He scored his first goal in a Cougars uniform against the Turlock Express of the Premier Arena Soccer League on Saturday, October 13, 2007 in a Cougars’ 15-6 win.
Both Low and Lupercio will play in the Cougars preseason finale against the Estadio Azteca All-Stars in Sacramento on Saturday, October 20, 2007 at Estadio Azteca. The event starts at 7:00pm and it is the final warm-up before the Cougars begin their regular season against the Chicago Storm on October 27, 2007.
The Cougars have now officially signed at least one draft pick from the 2007 MISL College, Supplemental and Expansion drafts. Forward Chris Handsor and midfielder Gordon Chin were both acquired by the Cougars in 2007 MISL Expansion Draft. The Cougars traded up in the draft to select both Handsor and Chin. California took Handsor in the second round with the 8th pick in the draft, Chin was taken in the next round with pick number 11. Sanaldo was acquired in exchange for the New Jersey Ironmen’s first round expansion draft pick. The Cougars’ obtained that pick by sending the rights to players Shaun David, Gary Brooks and Stefan Stokic to the Ironmen. California received the Ironmen’s first, third and fourth round picks for the three players.
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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