‘Melrose Place’ Actor to Play for Orange County Soccer Team
Rumors circulating about the Splash, Orange County’s new entry in the Continental Indoor Soccer League, proved Friday to be true.
The Splash has landed actor and amateur soccer player Andrew Shue for at least a few games this summer.
Shue, who plays Billy on the TV soap opera “Melrose Place” was one of two amateur players the Splash protected on its roster, along with Armando Valdivia of Cal State Northridge. The team will play 14 home games at The Pond of Anaheim beginning June 10 against Las Vegas.
Shue, a midfielder, played one game last season for the CISL’s Los Angeles United, which was later sold by Jerry Buss to an Anaheim group. Shue also played four years at Dartmouth, scoring eight goals with 17 assists in 53 games.
“Andrew’s a good player,” said John Nicoletti, team spokesman. “He won’t embarrass himself.”
The team is negotiating with Shue to determine when he will play. His schedule is limited because of filming and personal appearances.
The Splash is hoping to draw fans through Shue’s popularity with the teen crowd and also feed off interest in World Cup soccer coming to Southern California. Officials are convinced it can become as successful as the roller hockey Bullfrogs, its summer co-tenant at The Pond.
Besides protecting Shue and Valdivia, the Splash signed Rod Castro, a forward and the United’s leading scorer last season with 22 goals and 12 assists in 17 games; defender Ralph Black, and midfielder Doug Neely.
The team will complete its roster at the league draft April 13 in Washington, D.C., and expects to hire a coach by May 1, Nicoletti said. The Splash on Friday also unveiled its colors (ocean blue and black) and logo--a dolphin, wearing sunglasses, kicking a soccer ball with its tail.
Ticket prices range from $6 to $20 and are available by calling 714-704-2600.
The 1994 schedule:
HOME
(Times 7:35 p.m. unless noted)
June 10--Las Vegas; 11--San Jose; 15--Houston; 22--Detroit.
July 8--Portland; 9--Charlotte; 15--Monterrey; 20--Washington; 22--Arizona; 30--San Diego; 31--Pittsburgh, 7:05.
Aug. 28--Sacramento, 7:05.
Sept. 1--Dallas, 7:35; Sept. 3--Arizona, 7:35.
ROAD
(All times PDT)
June 19--Detroit, 4:35 p.m.; 24--Monterrey, 7:35 p.m.; 26--Houston, 5:05 p.m.
July 2--San Jose, 7:05 p.m.; 4--Portland, 6:05 p.m.; 16--Dallas, 5:35 p.m.; 24--San Diego, 7:35 p.m.
Aug. 7--Arizona, 7:05 p.m.; 13--San Diego, 7:35 p.m; 14--Sacramento, 6:05 p.m.; 19--Charlotte, 4:35 p.m.; 21--Pittsburgh, 10:35 p.m; 25--Washington, 4:05 p.m.; 27--Las Vegas, 7:35 p.m.
*
Rudy and Dusty Dvorak of Laguna Beach are among five county players competing this weekend at the Bud Light four-player beach volleyball tournament stop at Belmont Shore in Long Beach.
The two-day, $35,000 tournament begins at 9 a.m. each day on the beach between the Pier and Belmont Plaza pool. The five-team, round-robin tournament is one of 24 stops on the tour.
Competing for Team Sony will be Alan Knipe, a former Marina High and Long Beach State standout, and Dan Hanan, formerly of Edison High and the U.S. national team. Carlos Briceno, a former Fountain Valley High and national team standout, is captain of Team Op.
Former Olympian Scott Fortune of Laguna Beach, captain of Team Sony, will miss the tournament because he’s still playing professionally in Italy. He will be replaced by John Root.
