AFC Cleveland Royals Bringing Back Several Key Players from 2016 National Championship Season

While tryouts are set for April 30^th to fill in the few remaining open spots on the 2016 NPSL Champion, AFC Cleveland Royals roster.  There is no ignoring some of the all-stars they have coming back this season from their championship squad of a year ago.

Let’s take a look at a few of these players that will be making an impact once again this season with The Royals.  First, we will start with the backfield and Goal Keeper.

Defender Chris Cvecko

Second year with the club.

2015 UAA Most Valuable Player with Case Western Reserve University.

He has an attacking style and is a magnet for the ball. He has been described as a pest by more then one opponent. 

 

Defender Coletun Long

Was named to the 2016 All-NPSL Second Team.

Third Season with the team

10 regular season and three postseason appearances in 2016

Named to the Atlantic 10 and All-Ohio All-Academic Team with the University of Dayton in 2016.

 

Defender Declan McGivern

Second Season with the club

He made four playoff and six regular season appearances during the Royals’ 2016 championship

A native of Huddersfield, England

Assistant coach for the Ashland University men’s soccer program.

 

Goal Keeper Anthony Flowers

Fourth season with club

Started and won the 2016 NPSL Championship Game

He appeared eight times with the Royals during the 2016 regular season and also made four playoff appearances,

Named to the NPSL Second Team Supporters’ XI and MVP of the 2016 NPSL Midwest Region Playoffs.

A member of the Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship Dayton Flyer team in 2016 as well.

 

While the backfield and Goal appear to be safe and as hard to get past as a brick wall, let’s now take a look at the men in the middle of the field and near the opposing goal, who will be taking the shots this season and scoring plenty of goals along the way to several victories!

 

 Midfielder Brian Potocnik

Second Season with the club.

Made the All-NPSL First Team in 2016.

Scored 5 goals and had an assist in 2016 Season.

 

Midfielder Ryan Ware

Second Season with the club

Attacking style of play

He had the deciding goal in a 2-0 home victory against FC Buffalo

Originally from Leighton Buzzard, England

Played professionally with Aldershot Town. Ware, along with Royals teammate Declan McGivern.

Helped Notre Dame College win the MEC Regular Season Championship in 2013, and he was also named to the DII CCA Men’s Soccer All-Atlantic Region Team in 2015.

 

Midfielder Ryder Bell

Second Season with the club.

Only 19 years of age, youngest player on the team and one of the youngest in the league.

Scored two goals last year, including the deciding goal in the National Championship Game.

This Westlake native attends the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. Where he had nine goals in 19 appearances and was named Second-Team All-Colonial Athletic Association this past season.

 

 

Even with a strong base of young talent, the Royals still boast veteran leadership in the form of Vinny Bell and Tom Beck.  Two much needed veteran leadership voices to guide the young talent.

Each player is entering his sixth season with the team, they are the longest tenured names on the roster and in the league.

 

Center Forward Vinny Bell

Scored two huge goals in last year’s National Championship Game

He is a scoring threat every time he touches the ball

Received Man of the Match honors for the championship game.

4 regular season goals and 3 playoff goals in 2016.

5 assists in 2016 as well.

 

Right Wing Tom Beck

Had a goal and assist in last seasons playoff run

Incredible Endurance and natural leader on the field

 

Last but not least, the dynamic duo of Admir Suljevic and Mikey Derezic are back to lead the team.  They are both coming off of a Championship Undefeated season with the PASL Indoor Cleveland Legacy this past winter.  In fact, they finished first and second in the NEO Sports League MVP voting for the PASL, with Suljevic winning by a narrow margin.  These two have been playing together since youth soccer and make any team they are on, a championship contender!

 

Almir Suljevic

2017 NEO Sports MVP of the PASL

2016 AFC Cleveland Royals Club Captain

2 goals, 2 assists in 13 regular season games in 2016

Was named to the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team his freshman season and First-Team All-Horizon League in his sophomore, junior, and senior years playing at Cleveland State alongside Derezic. 

 

Mikey Derezic

14 appearances with the Royals in 2016

2017 NEO Sports Player of the Year in the PASL runner up

Can play multiple positions as he is great at defending and scoring

 

 

Derezic, Suljevic and the rest of the returning stars will be crucial as the Royals look to defend their 2016 NPSL Championship this season.  The fast and furious action begins Saturday, May 13 at Stan Skoczen Stadium against Dayton Dynamo. Tickets are now available afccleveland.com/tickets