ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City Soccer Club announced today the signing of Goalkeeper Brendan Moore and Defender Darvin Ebanks to the Under 23 squad, pending USSF approval. Both players were members of the 2011 University of North Carolina NCAA National Championship team. They join the U23s before their season opener tonight against Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy at 7 p.m. The match will be held at the Seminole Soccer Complex in Sanford, Fla.

Ebanks, a freshmen at UNC, was a part of the U.S. Men’s Under-18 National Team along with the Olympic Development Program before he signed with Carolina. Growing up in Georgia, he was chosen for his first ODP team at age 12, traveling and starring for Cobb FC for five seasons. CFC is a Super Y-League club based out of Atlanta, Georgia.

Ebanks played for Mount De Sales Academy in Macon, Ga, during his time in high school. De Sales won the state championship his freshmen year while finishing runners up his senior campaign, with Ebanks an integral reason why De Sales Academy competed at such a high level.

Last season, Moore played in one game as a sophomore while backing up starter Scott Goodwin for the Tarheels. Before his time at Carolina, Moore was the goalkeeper for the Concorde Fire U-17/18 team from Atlanta, Ga, starting between the nets in a season where the Fire finished seventh at the 2010 Development Academy Finals Week.

During his time in high school, the goalkeeper was named to the ESPN Rise 2010 Spring All-American team along with being selected to the ESPN Rise Top Players list.

U23s Head Coach Joe Avallone spoke about adding the two UNC players and what they will bring to the Orlando City U23s this summer.

“I am excited to have these two players signed to the squad,” said U23s Head Coach Joe Avallone. “Both Ebanks and Moore are fantastic players and bring their own strengths to the team.”

For more information regarding the U23s and their season opener tonight at the Seminole Soccer Complex, please visit Orlandocitysoccer.com

Transaction: Orlando City (PDL) signs Goalkeeper Brendan Moore and Defender Darvin Ebanks.

Darvin Ebanks
Position: Defender
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 205
Hometown: Macon, Ga.
College: University of North Carolina

Brendan Moore
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 190
Hometown: Roswell, Ga.
College: University of North Carolina