Soccer Fan Pro

Make the Rochester Rhinos the eighth former member of the United Soccer Leagues First Division and the tenth overall member of the revived North American Soccer League.

In a posting on the website of Miami FC Blues, a fellow NASL franchise, team chief executive officer Rob Clark said the Rhinos were “joining a family of team owners who are further committee to investing in our league and their teams to further the development of players and support the future growth of the sport in North America.”

The Rhinos join USL1 members Atlanta Silverbacks (who were dormant in the 2009 season), Carolina RailHawks, Miami FC Blues, Minnesota Thunder, defending champion Montreal Impact, 2010 expansion team Tampa Bay Rowdies and Vancouver Whitecaps, along with USL Second Division member Crystal Palace Baltimore, in the league. The lone team with no USL ties in the NASL is St. Louis United, who attempted unsuccessfully to join Major League Soccer as a future expansion franchise.

Major League Soccer’s DC United announced the releases Monday of defender Greg Janicki and midfielder Ely Allen.

Janicki joined the team on loan in September 2008 and played 422 minutes in seven overall games, including five MLS starts.

Allen came to United July 24, 2009 and appeared in three CONCACAF Champions League games but did not play in any MLS contests.

Midfielder David Testo, named the Most Valuable Player for the United Soccer Leagues First Division champion Montreal Impact, was signed Monday to a two-year deal by the team now affiliated with the resurrected North American Soccer League.

Testo, in his third season in 2009, had one goal and an assist over all 26 games he started, playing 2,235 minutes, but also led the team in fouls with 38.

He was named for the first time in his career this past season to the USL1 All-League Second Team.

In related news, the Impact announced Monday defender Zanzan and midfielder Felix Brillant were released.

The North American Soccer League’s Vancouver Whitecaps announced Monday head coach Teitur Thordarson will remain in his position for the 2010 season after signing a one-year contract extension.

Thordarson led the Whitecaps to their second United Soccer Leagues First Division championship in three seasons in 2008 in his first season as their head coach.

The operation of the Seattle Wolves of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League was placed under the umbrella of the Crossfire Premier Soccer Club Monday and the franchise will play in the 2010 PDL season as Washington Crossfire.

CPSC was founded in 1968 and has developed players for college, US national teams, and pro teams in the US and abroad.

The Wolves were created in 2002 and finished their first PDL season in 2009 with an 11-4-3 record, a spot in the playoffs and became the league’s defending Northwest Division champion.