Coming off of their terrific run last season, the Brooklyn Knights are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to drink from the champions’ cup in the 2008 USL Premiere Development League (PDL).  And, already a glut of ballweavers are hoping to impress the coaching staff to be on the 2007 Eastern Conference – Northeast Division champions’ final squad.

“We have a lot of calls from players who want to be a part of this team,” said General Manager Gali Maimon last Tuesday as he spoke of registration for trials for the Knights who were ‘pipped’ in the 2007 national semi-finals by penalty kicks.

 With a taste of the podium sensation and, the impressive professionalism and fan-friendly brand of football displayed, the Knights management have said they expected the “soaring attraction the team has on players wanting to take their game higher.”

 This year, the Knights open up their regular season (see chart below) at home to the Westchester Flames on Friday, May 9^th at the Aviator Sports Complex (Floyd Bennett Field) from 8 pm.  They then play 15 more matches, culminating with the last of their eight home games on Saturday, July 19^th against the Fred-burg Gunners from 7:30 pm.

 Like last year, the regular season will see home and away games being split evenly for the Knights who first go on the road to Long Island Rough Riders on Tuesday, May 20^th, exactly one week after hosting the Riders at the Aviator field.

 With the expansion of the league, the Brooklyn franchise is slated to match skills with four opponents they didn’t face last year.  They are the Gunners, Ocean City Barons, NJ Rangers and Newark .  However, old foes Vermont Voltage, New Hampshire , Rough Riders and Ottawa Fury and the Flames will contest at least one match-up, each with the Knights.  

 The club will surround its official matches with a host of systemic practice sessions from early in May right up until the day before their final game.  Head Coach Joe Balsamo said the sessions will keep the players tuned to ensure the best possible team represents the Knights at all times.  “Once we get to the playoffs and championship games, we’ll have appropriate systems in place to keep us primed.”

 The franchise’s technical staff is conducting a series of ‘try-outs’ concluding on Saturday, March 22^nd at the Met Oval in Brooklyn .  They hope to shortlist 23 players from a current list of over four dozens. “We are also bringing in the college players, but they will not be available until May 1^st, Balsamo also indicated.

 With the aim of going all the way onto coveting the ultimate prize this year, the Knights will have pre-season engagements to help in streamlining its league roster.  On April 5^th, they come against Adelphi College from 8:00 pm at Tully Park – the Rough Riders home turf in Long Island .  A week later, they will host St. Francis College in a game starting at 2:30 pm. 

 After the addition of the college players, the Knights will host a special triangular mini-tourney involving teams from the Caribbean and Spanish communities on Friday, May 2^nd from 7:00 pm.  The following Tuesday (May 6^th), the RES U-20 squad gets a chance to play against the Knights from 7:00 pm, and crown the pre-season series.

 Maimon said he is excited about the club’s approaches this season, and “we are going out there everyday to play an exciting and high standard of soccer, hopefully to win this thing, totally.”  And, he is urging fans to come out and support the young, high-ranking club.