TROPICS ADD RUGGLES TO LINEUP

by Brian Ackley

LAKELAND, Florida (May 21, 2019) -  The Florida Tropics continue their roster overhaul with the signing of Drew Ruggles, who this spring helped lead the Milwaukee Wave to the Major Arena Soccer League championship. Per league and club policy, no additional details about the deals will be released.

Ruggles, a defender with an offensive flair as well, appeared in all 24 regular season games for Milwaukee, who defeated Monterrey 5-2 in the MASL championship game. He scored 11 goals and added eight assists during the 2018-regular season when the Wave went 21-3.

In his last three seasons with the Wave, the North Carolina native has 25 goals and 18 assists to go along with 44 blocks. He has been especially impressive in his 13 playoff games in that same period, with seven goals and four assists.

He started his professional indoor career with the Baltimore Blast in 2014-15, before spending the last five years in Milwaukee. In total, he has appeared in 81 MASL games with 30 goals and 23 assists.

“Drew is a great addition to our back line. Not only is he a top defender, but he's an instinctive offensive threat and isn't afraid to jump into the attack when the opportunity is there,” Tropics Coach Clay Roberts said. “Teams all over the league are looking for defenders like that. And his championship experience will be a huge positive for our improved roster as well.”

The Tropics have already added two of the MASL's top nine scorers as free agents signees so far this spring in Gordy Gurson (fifth in goals, fourth overall in points) and Ricardo Caravalho (ninth in goals), and also re-signed fan favorites Victor Parreiras, Anthony Arico and Antonio Manfut to multi-year deals. The league's free agency period ends May 30.

The Florida Tropics will start their fourth season in the Major Arena Soccer League late this fall at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. For more information, visit www.fltropics.com.