TWO NEWCOMERS JOIN THE IMPACT (from the Impact web site)

[François]

TWO NEWCOMERS JOIN THE IMPACT
Goalkeeper Michael Ueltschey and forward Chris Lemire on board for 2003 season

MONTREAL, March 27, 2003 — The Montreal Impact has added two more players to its roster for the upcoming 2003 season: goalkeeper Michael Ueltschey and forward Chris Lemire.

Ueltschey, a 22-year-old American, played with the Cincinnati Riverhawks in the A-League last season, where he kept a goals-against average of 1.53 in 10 games. He collected four of his team’s eight wins, including a 4-1 victory over the Impact last July 3. Over the winter, he also played exhibition games with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer.

"He’s a big, strong ‘keeper, who is very athletic for his size," says Impact head coach Bob Lilley of Ueltschey, who is 6’2" and weighs 195 pounds. "He has good hands and he’s a presence in the box. He will come in and compete with Greg Sutton for the job of number one goalkeeper."

A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Ueltschey joined the United States Under-17 national team when he was 14. In 2001, he helped the North Carolina Tar Heels win their first-ever NCAA national title.

Lemire, a 20-year-old forward who can also play midfield, made his A-League debut with the expansion team Calgary Storm last season, where he was their leading scorer with four goals and one assist. He was also their most dangerous player with 29 shots on net.

"He’s a quick, creative player, with a very good work rate, who likes to take players on," says Lilley about Lemire, who is also a member of the Canadian national team that qualified for the Youth World Championship. "He has the ability to score goals whether he plays midfield or up front. And he has been playing well with the U-20 national team."

Lemire and Ueltschey will report to the Impact’s training camp this Monday, March 31, at Soccerplexe Catalogna in Lachine.

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SOURCE: bcomm

INFO: Stéphane Banfi tel. 514-328-3668 (ext. 27) or 910-4779

EVERYTHING ON THE IMPACT AT www.montrealimpact.com