Men's Soccer News
Centre Soccer Product to play for USL Cincinnati Kings
David Horne has signed a professional contract with the USL D2 Cincinnati Kings. The Centre College NSCAA Academic All–American and two year captain is expected to play a defensive role with the Kings. Horne, a native of Louisville, played high school soccer for St. Xavier High School. 
The Kings lost in the semi-finals of the 2006 USL D2 playoffs. The professional model for American soccer begins with Major League Soccer (MLS) then United Soccer League (USL) D1, USL D2 and then Player Development League (PDL).
Horne, who was recently named as the new assistant coach for Centre College, will begin preseason with the Kings April 1.
Horne becomes Centre's fifth player to be signed to a professional contract. Centre College Head Coach Jeb Burch, who has prepared all 5 Centre players who went on to play professionally, feels Horne will have a successful career. “There is no substitute for hard work and with David's size, skill, and speed as a defender; I expect he will have a tremendous professional career.”
The Colonels compete in the difficult Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, NCAA Division III's top rated men's soccer conference. Horne feels the SCAC played a major role in his development. “After I went through my combine and try-outs, I began to appreciate the value in playing in the SCAC. The demands of the SCAC prepared me for soccer after college.”
The Cincinnati Kings conducted an exhibition with the University of Dayton on March 31, winning the match 3-2. The Kings, who saw 7 players from last year's team gain new contracts in the MLS or USL D1, begin regular season play on April 21 at defending USL champions Richmond Kickers. The Kickers knocked out the Kings in last year's semi-final series. The first home game will be on April 28 against the expansion Cleveland City Stars.
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