Expect more Union roster moves

It's nothing personal, but others may soon face the same fate as former Union defender Cristian Arrieta, who was axed by the club Tuesday as preparations for the 2011 Major League Soccer season continue in Florida.

As MLS' March 1 roster compliance date looms, Union boss Peter Nowak and staff continue to evaluate the player pool. Nowak conceded yesterday that the roster is not set and there is more to come by way of addition - and subtraction - in the coming weeks.

Rumors have continually circulated that the addition of a pair of Colombian forwards, Tressor Moreno and Cesar Arias, could become reality by the March 1 deadline.

"Our roster is not set and in place yet, we are still looking for guys that can complete our roster and are still looking for guys both defensively and offensively," said Nowak yesterday via conference call. "[In the case of Arrieta] it's nothing personal; it's a decision that we have to make with some of our other guys right now in the sense that some of these guys will make it and some of them will not. It's unfortunate, but it's the reality of the situation."

A chance to further evaluate comes today, when the team plays its second of four games in Orlando against the University of South Florida (3:30 p.m.). Yesterday, the Union moved its training sessions to the Dewey O. Boster Sports Complex in the City of Deltona and will host USF at that location, along with UCF, as in Central Florida, on Sunday (10 a.m.). The team will end its 2-week stay in Florida with a scrimmage against Orlando City of the USL on Feb. 19.

"It was a different landscape last year as opposed to today, where alot of our focus was on fitness," Nowak said. "We spend more time with the ball now; it's important for us to develop as a group with the soccer ball and with our decisions on the field."