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Impact acquires Gienir Garcia from the Whitecaps
In return for the discovery rights to Etienne Barbara


MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Tuesday the acquisition of defender Gienir Garcia from the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in return for the discovery rights to forward Etienne Barbara.

Garcia played 10 games with Cruz Azul Hidalgo in the Mexican second division over the last two years. He began his career in the youth ranks of top Mexican club Cruz Azul, making his first division debut on July 3, 2010, during the 2010-11 season. He has also played two games with Cruz Azul in the preliminary round of the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League, scoring one goal.

http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/new...rcia-whitecaps

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Mike Sorber anxious to train in Mexico
More players invited to camp


Among the players selected in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft, Canadian forward Evan James (1st overall), defender Aaron Schoenfeld (2nd round) and Mexican defender Gienir Garcia, acquired in a deal with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in return for the discovery rights to Etienne Barbara, will also make their way to Guadalajara.

Three more international players were invited to take part in the Mexican tour. Young Columbians Daniel Arcila Villa and Juan José Peña, along with Francisco “Panchito” Mendoza, a 26-year-old Mexican midfielder who played 118 games with Chivas USA and four games in Mexcio’s first division, will take to the field in Guadalajara with the rest of the boys in blue.

http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/new...s-train-mexico

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Impact get a little Canuck flavor in Supplemental Draft
Winger James, forward Haworth to join Marsch's side for preseason


Most Montreal Impact supporters felt there were two things missing on the team before Tuesday’s 2012 Supplemental Draft: firepower and Canadian players. The club must have heard them.

The Impact loaded up on goal scoring potential with Canadian winger Evan James (above, left) selected as the No. 1 pick of the draft, followed by American forwards Aaron Schoenfeld and Steven Miller as well as Canadian striker Carl Haworth. Between them, the four players scored 36 goals and recorded 21 assists last season in the college ranks.

“We tried to recruit the best players available according to our positional needs,” head coach Jesse Marsch told MLSsoccer.com by phone. “We feel the players we got will round out our roster in a good way.”

The four players are now expected to compete for spots on the roster with Reda Agourram, Mircea Ilcu and Eduardo Sebrango. All three marksmen are invited players at Montreal’s training camp.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...lemental-draft

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Mallace proves to be a SuperDraft steal for Impact
Scotsman comes from under radar to realize dream of turning pro


Montreal sporting director Nick De Santis certainly sat up and took notice. He revealed after the draft that the Impact bosses had Mallace going at No. 11 and were very surprised he was still available when their turn came up in the second round. Even Mallace’s coach at Marquette, Louis Bennett, was adamant that his former Golden Eagles star should have gone sooner.

“Montreal had a great draft – goodness me, a Generation adidas player like [Andrew Wenger] and Mallace? I was hugely surprised,” Bennett told MLSsoccer.com. “I believe there were a couple of teams that are very disappointed they didn’t get [Mallace]. Athletically, he’s a good specimen, especially as a transitional midfield player. He’s got good skills on the ball and a no-nonsense attitude. When he needs to knock people around, he knocks people around.”

A native of Torphichen, Scotland, the tough-tackling midfielder spent half his life engulfed in rich soccer heritage. Mallace concedes that living in a country where soccer is the No. 1 sport helped give him the drive and hunger to force his way onto the scene at the MLS Combine. That passion did not go unnoticed among the Impact staff.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/...t-steal-impact

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Academy preseason opens with enthusiasm
U21 team step up its game at training camp with MLS on the horizon


“The biggest difference from last year is that we have young players who are more motivated and attentive because they know that the next level is the highest in North America, and they could play against the likes of Thierry Henry and David Beckham. The quality of play from last season compared to this season is already higher. And if the players don’t make the effort, they won’t get that chance.”

“Our main objective is to bring some Quebec players to the MLS team. Eventually, we would like to see 25% of the roster made up of local players, say some five years down the line, but only time will tell.”

For now, the Impact U21s will look to a couple of young players who are on the cusp of breaking out to lead them on the pitch this season. Midfielder Alessandro Riggi and forward Anthony Jackson-Hamel, both 19, have shown well in camp thus far.

http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/new...ens-enthusiasm

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Jamaican defender Shavar Thomas joins the Impact
National team captain and nine-year MLS veteran


MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Friday the signing of defender and Jamaican National Team captain Shavar Thomas. As per club and Major League Soccer (MLS) policy, details of the contract were not disclosed.

Thomas, 30, has played 170 career MLS games, including 158 as a starter, recording three goals and one assist. He has logged 13,804 minutes of play in his MLS career, and has appeared in five playoff games.

“As captain of the Jamaican National Team and a nine-year MLS veteran, we feel that Shavar will add great experience and quality to our team,” said Impact head coach Jesse Marsch.

http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/new...s-joins-impact

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The Impact unveils details of California training camp
Team to play Dynamo, Timbers and Galaxy


Training camp schedule in Los Angeles

Monday, February 6 – Departure for Los Angeles
Tuesday, February 7 – Training session
Wednesday, February 8 – vs Houston Dynamo, Home Depot Center Sports Complex
Thursday, February 9 – Training session
Friday, February 10 – vs Portland Timbers, Home Depot Center Sports Complex
Saturday, February 11 – Training session
Sunday, February 12 – Training session
Monday, February 13 – Training session
Tuesday, February 14 – vs LA Galaxy, Home Depot Center Sports Complex
Wednesday, February 15 – Training session
Thursday, February 16 – Training session
Friday, February 17 – Training session
Saturday, February 18 – Return to Montreal

http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/new...-camp-schedule

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The Impact plays its first preseason game on Sunday
Team to play against Chivas Guadalajara's reserve team


GUADALAJARA, Mexico – The Montreal Impact will play its first game of training camp on Sunday against the reserve team of Mexican first division club Chivas, in Guadalajara, Mexico, at 11am ET.

Following five training sessions since arriving in Mexico, Wednesday, Impact head coach Jesse Marsch will use three different teams for each of the three 30-minute periods.

“After five days of training, it’s a great chance for the players to try to show what they can do,” said Marsch. “The group has worked hard in the last few days and is gradually improving physically. It will be a good start to see how they size up by letting them play at different positions.”

http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/new...on-game-sunday

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The Impact plays its first preseason game on Sunday
Team to play against Chivas Guadalajara's reserve team


GUADALAJARA, Mexico – The Montreal Impact will play its first game of training camp on Sunday against the reserve team of Mexican first division club Chivas, in Guadalajara, Mexico, at 11am ET.

Following five training sessions since arriving in Mexico, Wednesday, Impact head coach Jesse Marsch will use three different teams for each of the three 30-minute periods.

“After five days of training, it’s a great chance for the players to try to show what they can do,” said Marsch. “The group has worked hard in the last few days and is gradually improving physically. It will be a good start to see how they size up by letting them play at different positions.”

http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/new...on-game-sunday

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Impact ties Chivas 0-0
Marsch: "We did well and it's a fair result against a good team"


GUADALAJARA, Mexico – The Montreal Impact and Chivas Guadalajara played to a 0-0 tie in the club’s first preseason game, Sunday, at Verde Valle, in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The Impact responded well to its first challenge of training camp as a dozen players from the first team of the Mexican first division club took part in the game, which was divided into three periods of 30 minutes


http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/new...-training-camp

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The Impact plays its second game in Mexico on Tuesday
Team to line up against Estudiantes Tecos


GUADALAJARA, Mexico – A day after playing to a scoreless draw with Chivas Guadalajara in its first game of the preseason, the Impact was back on the pitch Monday preparing for its next opponent training camp opponent, Estudiantes Tecos, scheduled for Tuesday at 11am ET.

The Montreal Impact will once again line up against a first division team from Mexico, Tecos, which in its latest regular season game, tied fellow top-tier side América last Saturday.

On Tuesday, the team will be divided in two groups that will each play a 40-minute half, to gradually give more playing time to the players.

http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/new...mexico-tuesday

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The Impact plays its second game in Mexico on Tuesday
Team to line up against Estudiantes Tecos


GUADALAJARA, Mexico – A day after playing to a scoreless draw with Chivas Guadalajara in its first game of the preseason, the Impact was back on the pitch Monday preparing for its next opponent training camp opponent, Estudiantes Tecos, scheduled for Tuesday at 11am ET.

The Montreal Impact will once again line up against a first division team from Mexico, Tecos, which in its latest regular season game, tied fellow top-tier side América last Saturday.

On Tuesday, the team will be divided in two groups that will each play a 40-minute half, to gradually give more playing time to the players.

http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/new...mexico-tuesday

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VID: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn5idXvPfYg

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Braun's goal gives Impact 1-0 win over Estudiantes Tecos
Montreal show signs of progress in preseason's second friendly


GUADALAJARA, Mexico – So far, so good in 2012 for the Montreal Impact.

The Canadian club has yet to concede in two preseason games and came away with a well-earned 1-0 victory against Estudiantes Tecos on Tuesday thanks to a nicely taken 63rd-minute goal from Justin Braun.

With the game knotted at 0-0, Josh Gardner launched an excellently measured ball over the defense, which Braun latched onto, lobbing the ball first time over the sprawling goalkeeper from 25 yards. It marked the first goal of Montreal's preseason.

“[Gardner] put the ball right where it needed to be and I was able to finish it,” Braun explained to MLSsoccer.com after the game.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...udiantes-tecos

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U21 Academy already bearing fruit
Crépeau, Ouimette, Agourram and Ilcu have spent time with first team


Crepeau joined Impact youth alums Mircea Ilcu and Reda Agourram in Mexico, both invited on tryouts with the MLS club. Ilcu started four of 11 games played last season with the pros, totalling 317 minutes, scoring one goal (a game winner) and adding one assist. Fellow striker Agourram, 21, has scored two goals in 30 appearances for the Impact after joining the first team in 2010 from the reserve side.

With four players developed through the Impact reserve system in camp, the future looks bright for the Impact and for soccer in Quebec.


http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/new...-bearing-fruit