Name: Pete Angelokostopoulos

Number: 12

Position: Forward

Date of Birth: 12/7/78

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Height: 5'8"

Weight: 155

Previous Club: North Coast Soccer (PASL)

Angelokostopoulos, a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College, is another Vortex player with international experience. From 2002 to 2003 he played for three professional clubs in Greece: Aris FC, Patraikos, and Panetolikos FC.

Shamrocks (NCSL) and Concordia (LESL) were the next stops for Angelokostopoulos. In 2009, the striker led the NCSL in scoring with 21 goals.

The Cleveland, OH native would contribute 4 goals and 4 assists over 13 games in the 2009/2010 PASL-Pro season with the Vortex. The loss of several returning starters will make Angelokostopoulos an even more important part of the Ohio attack.

Name: Denzil Antonio

Position: Head Coach

Date of Birth: 2/12/64

Hometown: London, England

Antonio would lead the expansion Vortex to a respectable 8-8 record during the 2009-2010 PASL-Pro season. The club now hopes to build off the strong finish of last season in order to contend for the Eastern Division crown. The London, England native returns for his second year at the helm, working with a mix of youth and experience for the Canton, OH based professional team.

Antonio, a highly respected member the soccer community, was a four-year starter at the University of Akron from 1981 to 1984. He was named All-Ohio in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984. Antonio would receive All-Midwest honors in 1984. He would contribute 12 goals and 20 assists in 84 regular season and 8 NCAA playoff matches.  

Antonio would go on to enjoy a decorated career as a professional soccer player and coach. He currently ranks 15th all-time in games played (334), 4th all-time in blocks (485), and 35th all-time in total points (483). Antonio was named to the All-Pro Team for the 1987/1988, 1989/1990, 1990/1991, and 1992/1993 seasons. He was also named the NPSL Defender of the Year for the 1990/1991 season.

Antonio was an assistant coach for the Canton Invaders for the 1992/1993 and 1993/1994 seasons before serving as head coach of the NPSL's Invaders for the 1994/1995 and 1995/1996 seasons. He would retire from the professional ranks in April 1997 after playing and serving as an assistant coach with the NPSL's Cincinnati Silverbacks for a single season.

He would go on to serve as the Director of Coaching for the Akron Metro Futbol Club (1997-present), the South Euclid Lyndhurst Soccer Club (2002-2008), and the Highland Youth Soccer Club (1990 to 2001). Antonio would also spend time as a coach for five clubs and three high schools.

Name: Milko Cecez

Number: 11

Position: Midfielder

Date of Birth: 11/11/83

Hometown: Konjic, Bosnia

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 160

Previous Club: SSK Karadjordje (LESL)

Cecez, a graduate of John Carroll University and The Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, signed with the Vortex on November 12, 2009. The 2009-2010 season was a banner year for Cecez, who tallied 10 goals and 2 assists over 14 games.

The midfielder has considerable experience from a variety of clubs including Cleveland United (OYSAN), SSK Karadjordje (LESL), Man United (NCSL), and FK Rudar in Serbia.

Name: Ross Cochran

Number: 22

Position: Midfielder/Defender

Date of Birth: 7/11/87

Hometown: Paisley, Scotland

Height: 5'8"

Weight: 155

Previous Club: Malone University (AMC)

Cochran's "claim to fame" includes time spent with the Scotland U-19 National Team. The young midifelder/defender also played with St. Mirren and Patrick Thistle as a youth player before playing for Malone University in Canton, Ohio.

Name: Jared Dombrowski

Number: 9

Position: Defender

Date of Birth: 9/27/82

Hometown: Pickerington, OH

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 185

Previous Club: Marshall University (WV)

Dombrowski, a graduate of Pickerington H.S., signed with the Vortex on November 12, 2009. During the 2009-2010 season, he led the Vortex with 12 blocks and still managed to add 3 goals and 2 assists.

He had a successful college career at Marshall University, where he was a captain for two seasons. Dombrowski also gained experience at the PDL level with the Columbus Shooting Stars in 2003.

Name: Sasha Djuric

Number: 23

Position: Goalkeeper

Date of Birth: 8/7/84

Hometown: Zenica, Bosnia

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 205

Previous Club: F.K. Gavrilo Princip (LESL)

Name: Allen Eller

Number: 66

Position: Forward

Date of Birth: 12/11/1976

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 160

Previous Club: Cleveland Force (MISL)

Eller, a veteran midfielder, joined the Vortex on November 12, 2009. The 2009-2010 PASL-Pro season would see Eller lead the Vortex in goals (34), assists (19), games played (15), and shots (93). He would also earn an All-League First Team selection after establishing himself as one of the league's top attackers.

A University of Akron (OH) graduate, Eller signed with the Cleveland Crunch (NPSL) in 1999. He would go on to play for several clubs, including the USL's Pittsburgh Riverhounds (1999-2001), WISL's Houston Hotshots (2000), MISL's Harrisburg Heat (2002), USL's Cincinnati Riverhawks (2002), MISL's Baltimore Blast (2002-2005), and MISL's Cleveland Force (2005).

He is best known for his time with the Blast, where he contributed 20 goals and 12 assists over the course of 68 games.

Name: Steve Gillespie

Number: 21

Position: Midfielder

Date of Birth: 8/2/1985

Hometown: Brecksville, OH

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 150

Previous Club: Cleveland City Stars (USL)

Gillespie, a talented young midfielder, signed with the Vortex on November 12, 2009. He tallied 3 goals and 11 assists (2nd on team) despite missing significant time with a knee injury. Now fully recovered, Gillespie has the potential to be one of the top attacking midfielders in the entire league.

Gillespie was recognized for his outstanding play at Mount Union College (OH) as he was named 1st Team All-Ohio Athletic Conference and the Ohio Athletic Conference Midfielder of the Year. Gillespie would spend time with the Cleveland Internationals (PDL) and the Columbus Crew Reserves (MLS) before joining the Cleveland City Stars of the USL's First Division.

The speedy Gillespie played alongside some of the USL's finest and was able to gain invaluable experience. He would get his first goal with the City Stars against the St. Louis Lions in U.S. Open Cup play.

Name: Rick King

Number: 7

Position: Midfielder/Defender

Date of Birth: 7/25/83

Hometown: Warren, OH

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 170

Previous Club: Cleveland Internationals PDL

King appeared in 3 games for the Vortex in 2009-2010, registering just 1 shot in limited action. The Malone University graduate also has experience at the PDL level with the West Virginia Chaos (2005) and the Cleveland Internationals (2007).

He currently serves as an assistant coach for the men's soccer program at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio.

Name: Adis Kuduzovic

Number: 16

Position: Forward

Date of Birth: 9/27/82

Hometown: Velika Kladusa, Bosnia

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 159

Previous Club: SK Karadjordje Cleveland

Kuduzovic appeared in 13 games for the Vortex in 2009-2010, logging 12 goals and 8 assists in addition to 3 blocks.

The striker has past experience with SK Karadjordje Cleveland, North Coast Soccer Club, Cleveland Whitecaps, and West Bosnia Chicago.

Name: Lucas Martorana

Number: 6

Position: Defender

Date of Birth: 1/4/1986

Hometown: Warren, OH

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 175

Previous Club: Malone University (OH)

Martorana appeared in 9 games for the Vortex in 2009-2010, logging 3 goals and 3 assists as well as 5 blocks. It is likely that the young defender/midfielder will see more playing because of the loss of several starters from last season.

Martorana began his career with the PDL Cleveland Internationals, where he played from 2002-2004. He would go on to play for the University of Buffalo (NY), Malone University, and Akron GFS (LESL). He would return to play with the Internationals in the summer of 2009.

Name: Ryan McClay

Number: 20

Position: Midfielder/Defender

Date of Birth: 3/8/84

Hometown: Columbus, OH

Height: 5'8"

Weight: 165

Previous Club: Chicago Storm (XSL)

McClay brings several years of indoor experience to the Vortex. His professional career started with the Cincinnati Excite (AISL) in September 2007. He would then go on to sign with the Chicago Storm for the 2008-2009 XSL season.

McClay also had an illustrious collegiate career here in Ohio with both Wilmington College and Miami University.

Name: Michael Pertz

Number:51

Position: Defender

Date of Birth: 12/11/86

Hometown: Medina, OH

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 208

Previous Club: Real Maryland (USL-2)

Pertz, a defender with good size and deceptive speed, signed with the Vortex on November 12, 2009. He tallied 3 goals, 1 assist, and 11 blocks in the 2009-2010 season. Pertz would then sign with the Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2) before training with Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-1). The defender logged 7 appearances with the Monarchs despite playing behind some of the league’s best defenders.

Pertz began his career at the University of Akron (OH) before spending time at Mount Vernon Nazarene University (OH) and Azusa Pacific University (CA).

Name: Ronnie Stolz

Number:19

Position: Defender

Date of Birth: 9/3/78

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 184

Previous Club: Concordia (LESL)

Stolz spent his collegiate career in the Horizon League with Cleveland State University. He would play for the Cleveland Whitecaps (USISL) from 1998-2000 before spending time with Donauschwaben (NCSL) and Concordia (LESL).

Name: Nate Yates

Number: 18

Position: Defender/Midfielder

Date of Birth: 3/10/87

Hometown: Cleveland Heights, OH

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 175

Previous Club: Allegheny College (PA)

Yates, a graduate of Cleveland Heights (OH) H.S., signed with the Vortex on November 12, 2009. He played in two games in 2009-2010 and tallied 1 assist and 2 shots.

Yates earned All-LEL and 3rd Team All-Cleveland honors while in high school and went on to a successful collegiate career at Allegheny College (PA). The midfielder would appear in 69 games and contribute 9 goals and 9 assists. He was named to the All-NCAC First Team in 2008.

The Vortex Insider Home