Drew Kopp back with the Impact

[François]

From the Impact web site:

DREW KOPP BACK WITH IMPACT

Defender signs deal for 2003 season, his second with Montreal

MONTREAL, May 28, 2003 — The Montreal Impact announced Wednesday that it has come to terms with Drew Kopp. The 26-year-old defender will be playing his fifth A-League season, his second with the Montreal squad.

Kopp, an American originally from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, had the busiest season of his pro career in 2002. He played in 24 games with the Impact, including 19 starts, for a total of 1,767 minutes of play, the ninth highest total on the team.

He helped coach Bob Lilley’s squad post the fourth-best defense in the A-League, with 29 goals allowed in 28 games. Only the Charleston Battery (16), the Rochester Raging Rhinos (25) and the Seattle Sounders (27) did better.

"Drew had a good season last year. He’s a player who can play as a central or wide defender, who is good in the air and has a good understanding of the game," said Lilley, who also coached Kopp for three seasons with the Hershey Wildcats. "He brings a really positive mentality to the team every time he steps on the field."

Kopp also helped the Philadelphia Kixx win the 2001-2002 Major Indoor Soccer League championship title. This year, he and the Kixx reached the Eastern Conference finals.

"It’s good to be back, to get back into the mix," said Kopp. "We have a very deep team, a lot of guys who are capable of being on the starting eleven, which is a good thing because we have a lot of back-to-back games — it makes things easier for everybody. It’s going to be another interesting year."

Kopp has started training with his teammates and he will be available for the Impact’s next games. The Montreal squad will face the Whitecaps in Vancouver, Friday at 11 pm (live on RDS and Fox Sports World) and the Storm in Calgary, Sunday at 5 pm.

The Impact’s next home game at Claude Robillard Stadium will be on Friday, June 6 against the Toronto Lynx.

NEVIO PIZZOLITTO, ZÉ ROBERTO HONOURED

Two Impact players, defender Nevio Pizzolitto and midfielder Zé Roberto, have been selected on the A-League Team of the Week for the league’s sixth week of activity.

Pizzolitto scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win in Richmond against the Kickers, Friday, while Zé Roberto scored the equalizer in a 1-1 tie at Virginia Beach against the Mariners, Saturday, to help the Impact remain undefeated in its last four games and post a 2-1-1 road record so far this season.

Zé Roberto was also named A-League Player of the Week two weeks ago.

François

www.impactsoccer.com