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Calistri Makes Move to Rising FC

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 12/20/18, 4:02PM EST

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Roughnecks add Honduran midfielder to squad; Conway signs first pro deal with ATL UTD 2

PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC announced on Thursday it had signed attacking midfielder Joey Calistri for the 2019 USL Championship season, pending league and federation approval.

“I’m really excited for this new opportunity,” said Calistri. “Over the last two years it’s been easy to see how dynamic this team is. I can’t wait to get to work and do whatever I can to help the club reach new heights.”

A former Homegrown signing by the Chicago Fire, Calistri made 14 appearances and scored one goal in Major League Soccer during his time with the club. In addition to appearances for the Fire, Calistri also spent the 2017 season on loan with Tulsa Roughnecks FC in the USL Championship, where he recorded nine goals and six assists in 31 appearances to help lead the side to the USL Cup Playoffs.

Last season, Calistri joined the USL Championship’s Saint Louis FC, where he recorded five goals and two assists in 32 appearances as STLFC advanced to the postseason for the first time. A former standout at Northwestern University collegiately, Calistri also competed in USL League Two for the Chicago Fire U-23 prior to turning professional.

HONDURAN INTERNATIONAL JOINS ROUGHNECKS: Tulsa Roughnecks FC announced it had signed 29-year-old midfielder Christian Altamirano for the 2019 USL Championship season. The Honduran international’s signing is pending league and federation approval.

“I didn’t come to be part of a team, I came to be part of a family and fight for it,” said Altamirano.

A native of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Altamirano has made six appearances for his country since his debut in 2017. He most recently competed for Real Espãna, having previously competed for Deportes Savio, Olimpia, Vida, Marathón, Platense and Real Sociedad. His arrival in Tulsa marks his first professional stint overseas.

“The addition of Christian Altamirano makes us a well-balanced and extremely dangerous attacking team. Christian has a lot of variety to his game. He can beat players off the dribble or with good combination play,” said Roughnecks Head Coach Michael Nsien. “Christian draws a lot of fouls because of his deception and change of pace. He consistently makes defenders believe they can win the ball, when he’s actually setting them up for a change of pace or direction.

“He has international experience with the Honduran National team and has played in some of the most competitive cup and league matches in his native country of Honduras. Christian is a valuable addition that will aid us in achieving our goals in 2019.”

ATL UTD 2 INKS ACADEMY STANDOUT CONWAY: ATL UTD 2 announced it had signed forward Jackson Conway, pending league and federation approval. Conway is the third player from the Atlanta United Academy to sign with the USL Championship squad, and the eighth overall to sign a professional contract.

“We are pleased to bring Jackson to the next step of his career,” said ATL UTD 2 Head Coach Scott Donnelly. “Being from our Academy, we know him well and know that this is a great step for him and for the club. Tony and our Academy coaches have done a great job preparing Jackson, and we are excited to see his progress as a professional.”

Conway, 17, has spent the last two seasons in Atlanta United’s Academy system where he scored 43 goals and was a part of the U-16 side which won the U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) National Championship in 2017. In October 2016 during Generation adidas Cup qualifying, Conway scored a goal from midfield that landed on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top Plays (watch here).

Conway made 11 appearances and four starts for ATL UTD 2 last season and made his professional debut in a start against Charleston Battery on April 24.

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