UTICA CITY SIGNS TWO NEW ROOKIE TALENTS

 
Utica, N.Y. – Utica City FC General Manager Tommy Tanner announced today that the club has signed two new players – forward Witman Hernandez and defender Milan Jakovljevic. Per team and league policies, the terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

 

Hernandez, hailing from Huntington, NY, will enter his rookie season with the MASL. A four-year starter for the Oneonta Red Dragons, he was the all-time leading scorer in school history with 61 goals and 19 assists throughout his collegiate career. During a standout season in 2019, Hernandez collected 26 goals and 10 assists, for a total of 62 points that led all divisions of NCAA men’s soccer in the country; he was also a First Team All-American and SUNYAC Offensive Player of the Year. At 5’9” and 155 pounds, Hernandez will add speed and scoring to what is already an offensive roster for the 2020-21 season.

 

I’m extremely grateful that I’ve been given this opportunity from a club who believes in my ability and I believe in theirs,” Witman explained. “It’s been my dream to play professional soccer since I was little and now that I have been presented with the chance, I won’t let it go to waste. I look forward to putting on that blue jersey and getting to work.”

 

"I have followed Witman through his college career and have always been impressed with his natural goal scoring ability,” said Ryan Hall, Head Coach of Utica City. “His versatility in front of the goal with both taking players on and playing with his back to the goal will be a natural transition to the indoor game. We are very excited to have Witman as part of the Utica City in 2021."

 

Helping to protect the net this season, Jakovljevic will strengthen the depth of Utica City’s defense. A three-time USCAA 1st Team All-American, Jakovljevic captained Bryant and Stratton College, was a 2015-18 USCAA National Championship Finalist and a USCAA National Champion in 2019.

 

"Milan is a big, strong, technical, and experienced defender that has been training with us off and on throughout his college career,” expressed Hall. “We are excited for him to finally get to play for the City and are expecting a big rookie season similar to the one his former college teammate Momo had." 

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