Deltas Sign Four More Players To Roster

Four more players have signed with the San Francisco Deltas before the team commences preseason training camp this week in San Francisco.

The latest players to join the Deltas are defender Bryan Burke, goalkeeper Steward Ceus, midfielder Tyler Gibson and forward Devon Sandoval.

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Burke, who spent four years at the University of San Francisco where he was a three-time All-West Coast Conference honoree. Burke has worked his way up in nearly every division in the North American professional ranks. Following stints with Kitsap Pumas and Orange County Blues, Burke spent two seasons with then-USL side Orlando City SC, where he played a role in the club’s 2013 championship run. In 2015, Burke signed with USL expansion side Louisville City FC and was named the USL Defender of the Year while leading the league with 10 assists. Last season, he started 18 of his 20 appearances with the NASL’s Jacksonville Armada FC.

"We were looking for a fullback that would give us depth defensively but who is strong in joining the attack on the offensive side of the ball," Deltas coach Marc Dos Santos said.

In Ceus, the Deltas will have a 'keeper with considerable experience on the professional and international levels. His key saves against Trinidad and Tobago in the final leg of the CONCACAF playoff helped Haiti reach the 2016 Copa America Centenario. A veteran of the Haitian national team, Ceus has also competed in the 2015 Gold Cup and World Cup qualifying campaigns in 2011 and 2016. Ceus started his professional career with the Colorado Rapids (2009–13) before signing with Närpes Kraft in Finland. The last two seasons, Ceus played with the Atlanta Silverbacks and Minnesota United, respectively.

"He has the experience in the league that we need," Dos Santos said. "He has all the tools to answer every time he's needed in the season."  

Gibson had a standout college career at UNC-Charlotte, where he earned four All-Atlantic 10 awards and helped the 49ers reach the 2011 NCAA Division I National Championship. After being invited to the MLS Combine in 2015, Gibson signed with the San Antonio Scorpions of the NASL and made 22 starts in his rookie season. He moved to Rayo OKC in 2016, where he started four of his 16 appearances. Gibson and Rayo OKC went unbeaten in their last 11 contests in 2016 and qualified for The Championship Semifinals.

"He's very consistent, responsible, and a team guy," Dos Santos said. "His mentality and work ethic are strong. He brings competiveness to the table every day."

Sandoval reunites with Gibson after they both spent last season with Rayo OKC. After being drafted with the 29th overall pick in the 2013 MLS Superdraft by Real Salt Lake, Sandoval scored seven goals and logged three assists in 74 total appearances over four seasons. In 2015, Sandoval won the MLS Goal of the Week for a bender he scored against the Montreal Impact.While with RSL, Sandoval spent time on loan with the Carolina RailHawks (2014), Real Monarchs (2015), and Rayo OKC (2016). Last year with Rayo OKC, Sandoval tallied a goal and two assists in 12 matches.

"The thing I've always liked is Devon's work rate and mentality," Dos Sanots said. "He has incredible and I think he is really going to put pressure on opposing defenders."