TROPICS WELCOME TAVERNESE

LAKELAND, Florida (May 30, 2018) - The Florida Tropics have finished the MASL free agency signing period just how they began it, with a bang.

The Tropics have inked Joey Tavernese, who was a second team All MASL pick in 2017-18 with Syracuse, and who has appeared in 123 career pro arena games, amassing 126 goals and 91 assists. He played last year for Utica FC, dressing for 22 games, getting 20 goals and 14 assists. The MASL free agency signing period ends today at 6 p.m.

The 29 year-old Queens, N.Y. native had his best year two seasons ago, with 28 goals and 26 assists in 22 games for the Silver Knights. His first three years in the league were with the Rochester, and included his breakout year of 2014-15 when he had 26 goals and added 15 assists for the Lancers, who now play in MASL2.

“If you look at all our signees, Joey follows right along with the rest of them. Very talented, very smart, very team oriented. He, like the others, plays with an intensity and passion that our fans will immediately come to love,” Coach Clay Roberts said. “He really was a perfect fit for the type of player we have been looking to bring in and be part of our organization, a pro and a winner on and off the field.”

The Tropics remarkable two-week period included the signing of nine new players – including the fifth and ninth leading goal getters in the league last season in Gordy Gurson and Ricardo Caravalho – and re-signing three current ones which include fan favorites Victor Parreiras, Anthony Arico and Antonio Manfut.

The 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.