The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced Tuesday that the club has exercised contract options for forward Mike Ambersley, forward Carl Cort, midfielder Raphael Cox, midfielder Luke Mulholland, defender Daniel Scott and goalkeeper Andrew Fontein ensuring their return for the 2013 season.
Those who didn't have their options picked up include two starters on the defensive line (Andres Arango and JP Rodrigues) along with reserves Eddie Ababio, Dan O'Brien and Matt Clare.
Jeff Attinella, the goalie who was the hero of the Rowdies' NASL-clinching match, is a free agent but the Rowdies hope to have him back.
Other free agents from 2012's championship team are defender Thurstan Johnson, defender Takuya Yamada, midfielder Keith Savage and forward Daniel Antoniuk. The club also holds contract options for midfielder Evans Frimpong, midfield Shane Hill, forward Fafa Picault, and defender Draymond Washington.
Rowdies President & General Manager Andrew Nestor and Technical Director Perry Van Der Beck continue to meet with these players.
“It is our goal to keep together the core of our championship team, while addressing a couple key positions where we need to improve and retaining our young talent for the future,” said Nestor.
Defender and team captain Frankie Sanfilippo and midfielder Stuart Campbell are already under contract with the Rowdies through 2014.
Ambersley started 27 regular season and 4 postseason games in 2012, while leading the Rowdies with 25 points. The forward led the Rowdies with nine assists, with eight of those assists in the regular season making Ambersley tied for first in the NASL. Ambersely finished the season second on the team with eight goals. The Rowdies also have a club option on the forward for the 2014 season.
Cort joined the Rowdies late in the 2012 season, signing on August 10, 2012. Since his arrival he has played in four regular season matches with two starts and started 4 post-season matches for 538 total minutes, while scoring two goals including one goal in the NASL Soccer Bowl Final.
Mulholland played in 26 matches with 25 starts in the regular season, while starting in all four post-season games. He was tied for third on the team with six goals, while finishing second on the team with six assists. The midfielder played in 2,640 minutes, while being named to 2012 NASL Best XI squad.
Cox played in six regular season games this season and one post-season match, totaling 326 minutes. Scott played in 18 regular season games with 14 starts and played in 3 post-season games for a total of 1,516 minutes
