Vancouver Whitecaps FC announce that they have exercised the contract options of midfielders Vicente Arze and Justin Moose, as well as goalkeeper Jay Nolly for the 2009 season.
All three 'Caps played a pivotal role in the men's team's run to the 2008 United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) championship title in what was the trio's first season with the club.
Arze, 23-years-old, earned a nomination for the 2008 USL-1 Rookie of the Year award after making 27 regular season and playoff appearances for a total of 1,097 minutes of action. This included eight starts, with the winger's lone goal being the match-winner in a 1-0 victory at Portland Timbers on May 24. The goal earned the midfielder a place in the USL-1 Team of the Week for Week Six. The native of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, who initially signed with the club on January 31, made a successful transition to the professional game after an impressive NCAA Division I career with Mercer University. Prior to joining the 'Caps, the South American was a second round (25th overall) selection of the Kansas City Wizards in the 2008 Major League Soccer (MLS) Supplemental Draft.
Moose, 25, returns for a second season with Vancouver after initially signing with the 'Caps on April 15. The native of Statesville, North Carolina, made 29 appearances in all competitions for 1,802 minutes. This included starts in all four of the Whitecaps' matches in the inaugural Nutrilite Canadian Championship this past summer. The speedy winger's two goals came late in the season, as he struck in the 3-2 victory at Seattle Sounders on the final day of the USL-1 regular season, and in the 2-0 playoff quarterfinal, first leg, win over Minnesota Thunder. The former Wake Forest University star also earned a spot in the USL-1 Team of the Week for Week 23. Prior to his move to the club last spring, Moose spent two seasons in MLS with D.C. United.
Nolly, 26, will also be returning to the 'Caps after a fine first season in Vancouver. The Littleton, Colorado, native, who initially signed with the club on January 24, made 30 appearances in all competitions for 2,665 minutes. His record of 14 wins, eight defeats, and seven draws included 11 clean sheets, with one of those shutouts coming in the 1-0 away victory versus MLS side Toronto FC in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship on July 1. The former Indiana University standout, who spent three seasons in MLS with Real Salt Lake and D.C. United, was named in the USL-1 Team of the Week in Weeks Seven and 19.
Whitecaps 2009 season tickets are now on sale. Season tickets include all men’s and women's team regular season and playoff home matches at Swangard Stadium, Nutrilite Canadian Championship home matches against Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, as well as priority listing for BC Place and the proposed Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium. For more information on the 2009 season ticket packages, call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or CLICK HERE.
