Major Arena Soccer League
menuTROPIC ACQUIRE MASL VETERAN SCORING THREAT ANDREW HOXIE
LAKELAND, Fla – One of the most talented and popular players for the Baltimore Blast over the last five seasons will be joining the Florida Tropics for the 2021-22 season.
Andrew Hoxie – who might be as well known for his signature handlebar mustache as he is for his soccer prowess – won three straight championships with the Blast, and in 169 career pro indoor soccer games has scored 148 goals and added 81 assists in 198 career games.
Valued also for his postseason success, Hoxie had 11 goals and five assists in 19 games played when the Blast won three straight MASL titles from 2015-18. Overall, he has played in 29 playoff games, scoring 20 goals and notching 11 assists.
“Obviously, he’s won multiple championships and comes with a lot of experience and a winning mentality,” Coach Clay Roberts said. “He’s a big target and he knows how to hold the ball up. We rely on our targets to be very physical, and with the goalkeeper rule change, that’s of big importance to us now. He’s here to help us win a championship.”
Roberts sees Hoxie as a key addition given new rules that the MASL will use this year to push the ball forward into the offensive third more often.
“He knows how to score goals. He knows how to get around the goal and knows how to read the game based on movements,” Roberts added. “He just puts himself in a place to get goals and create for himself. His knowledge of how to use the board and be a good passer – and he can turn and shoot too. – will draw a lot of attention which will free up other players. “
Hoxie attended Denbigh Baptist Christian School in his native hometown of Newport News, Virginia. After graduation, Andrew attended William and Mary University where he earned multiple accolades for the Tribe including a third team All American selection and the CAA Player of the Year in his senior season.
After graduation, he was drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in the third round of the 2010 MLS Superdraft. From there, he signed with the Rochester Rhinos in Division II of the USSF.
He played three years indoors with the Rochester Lancers, kicking off his indoor career in 2011-12. In 51 career games for Rochester, he scored 39 goals. He also spent one season with the Wichita Wings, where he booted home 22 goals in 24 games.
The Tropics – presented by Bond Clinic – will open their sixth season in the Major Arena Soccer League on Dec. 4 when they travel to meet the Baltimore Blast. The home opener is set for Saturday, Dec. 18 when they host the Ontario Fury at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, part of a historic nine-game homestand. Kickoff for the sixth home opener in team history is set for 5:05 p.m.
Season tickets for all 12 Florida home games which guarantee the best seats in the house are now on sale by calling 863-240-0101. Each family season ticket account includes a parking pass this season.
In addition, the “Tropics Blitz” will provide free general admission tickets to many of the 200 level seats at the RP Funding Center for the entire 2021-22 season thanks to the team’s sponsor as a thank-you for five years of support, and as a way of providing a great evening of family entertainment for parents and kids who have had their activities curtailed because of the ongoing pandemic. Vehicles with two or more persons will pay $20 to park, and then be able to take their parking receipt to the RP Funding Center box office for the same number of free tickets to that day’s game as occupants in the vehicle. Single occupant vehicles will pay just $10 for parking.
For more information, visit www.fltropics.com.
Andrew Hoxie – who might be as well known for his signature handlebar mustache as he is for his soccer prowess – won three straight championships with the Blast, and in 169 career pro indoor soccer games has scored 148 goals and added 81 assists in 198 career games.
Valued also for his postseason success, Hoxie had 11 goals and five assists in 19 games played when the Blast won three straight MASL titles from 2015-18. Overall, he has played in 29 playoff games, scoring 20 goals and notching 11 assists.
“Obviously, he’s won multiple championships and comes with a lot of experience and a winning mentality,” Coach Clay Roberts said. “He’s a big target and he knows how to hold the ball up. We rely on our targets to be very physical, and with the goalkeeper rule change, that’s of big importance to us now. He’s here to help us win a championship.”
Roberts sees Hoxie as a key addition given new rules that the MASL will use this year to push the ball forward into the offensive third more often.
“He knows how to score goals. He knows how to get around the goal and knows how to read the game based on movements,” Roberts added. “He just puts himself in a place to get goals and create for himself. His knowledge of how to use the board and be a good passer – and he can turn and shoot too. – will draw a lot of attention which will free up other players. “
Hoxie attended Denbigh Baptist Christian School in his native hometown of Newport News, Virginia. After graduation, Andrew attended William and Mary University where he earned multiple accolades for the Tribe including a third team All American selection and the CAA Player of the Year in his senior season.
After graduation, he was drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in the third round of the 2010 MLS Superdraft. From there, he signed with the Rochester Rhinos in Division II of the USSF.
He played three years indoors with the Rochester Lancers, kicking off his indoor career in 2011-12. In 51 career games for Rochester, he scored 39 goals. He also spent one season with the Wichita Wings, where he booted home 22 goals in 24 games.
The Tropics – presented by Bond Clinic – will open their sixth season in the Major Arena Soccer League on Dec. 4 when they travel to meet the Baltimore Blast. The home opener is set for Saturday, Dec. 18 when they host the Ontario Fury at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, part of a historic nine-game homestand. Kickoff for the sixth home opener in team history is set for 5:05 p.m.
Season tickets for all 12 Florida home games which guarantee the best seats in the house are now on sale by calling 863-240-0101. Each family season ticket account includes a parking pass this season.
In addition, the “Tropics Blitz” will provide free general admission tickets to many of the 200 level seats at the RP Funding Center for the entire 2021-22 season thanks to the team’s sponsor as a thank-you for five years of support, and as a way of providing a great evening of family entertainment for parents and kids who have had their activities curtailed because of the ongoing pandemic. Vehicles with two or more persons will pay $20 to park, and then be able to take their parking receipt to the RP Funding Center box office for the same number of free tickets to that day’s game as occupants in the vehicle. Single occupant vehicles will pay just $10 for parking.
For more information, visit www.fltropics.com.