Soria had a solid year playing at both LB and CB, displaying a good level of consistency that helped fill the void of Maykon to injury and later to a mutual departure. He was a fan favourite for his steadiness and versatility, but he found himself relegated to the bench for the run-in of the season with the signing of O’Brian Woodbine.
Caceros is a local favourite who is born and raised in Ottawa, having gone through both the Fury academy and the senior club during Ottawa’s USL PDL days, as well as a stint with the defunct Ottawa CSL side, and has strong connections to the Ottawa footy community. He did not get much playing time and his departure was not unexpected, but Ottawa supporters will certainly be following his next move closely.
Mayard started the season slowly but was a important factor in the resurgence of the club midway through the fall season, with his energetic running down the left flank contributing a new dimension to the Fury offense. However, he was displaced in the starting XI after a good run and was unable to crack the starting lineup again.
Dantas had a strong and memorable season, and his departure has caused the greatest amount of anguish among Fury FC supporters. He will go down in Fury folklore as the first goalscorer in the NASL club’s history, with a header against Minnesota in the 50th minute, and was versatile enough to play as a winger and a CAM in addition to his usual striker role.
While he showed great touches and passing skills that belied his robust appearance, the fact that he was not considered an automatic starter while occupying one of the 7 international spots in the roster, similarly to Soria, counted against him in the very end. He was a great producer on the pitch, however, and his points per minute, including both goals and assists, must certainly be one of the highest in the team, with a number of strong cameos off the bench. Dantas may have left the club to look for starting opportunities in another club or a league if he was unable to force himself into reckoning for a starting spot.
The supporters have expressed their gratitude to the 4 players and their best wishes for the players for the 2015 season and beyond. They formed a strong basis of the Fury family in a truly memorable first season.
You can follow Namu Yoon on Twitter at @BBSC_SeoulBro, and his blog on Ottawa Fury FC at OFFCReview.wordpress.com, and at @OFFCReview.