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Cooper Friend Signs Pro Contract
April 7, 2007 ORONO, Maine - University of Maine men's soccer defender Cooper Friend has signed a professional contract with the Carolina RailHawks. Friend was captain of the men's soccer team last season as he scored four goals and added three assists to lead the team with eleven points. Cooper Friend, from Ellsworth, Maine, played in 67 career games for the Black Bears. He ended his career with five goals and ten assists for 19 points. He earned All-America East First Team honors in 2003 and was named to the conference second team in 2005. In 2002, he was named to the America East All-Rookie Team. Friend was also a Maine Scholar-Athlete and a member of the America East Academic Honor Roll. "This will be Cooper's rookie year," said RailHawks coach Scott Schweitzer. "It will be a learning experience for him but he has the ability to move to the midfield if needed and we look forward to some good things from him down the road." The RailHawks will begin their Inaugural Season on April 21st at 7:30pm against the Minnesota Thunder at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, NC. The Carolina RailHawks are a United Soccer League expansion team that will enter the USL First Division in April 2007. The squad will play 14 regular season home games and four additional home playoff and exhibition games each year, with all home games played at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Under Rochester Rhinos co-owner and USL Hall of Fame inductee Chris Economides, the RailHawks organization was formed in October 2005 and awarded the USL franchise in January 2006. The University of Maine men's soccer team will open the 2007 season under new head coach Pat Laughlin. The schedule will be released in late April. For more information on University of Maine athletics, please visit www.GoBlackBears.com.
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