Charleston Battery News Release - www.charlestonbattery.com

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

CHARLESTON, SC -- The Charleston Battery has agreed to terms with defender Frankie Sanfilippo for the 2009-2011 seasons. Sanfilippo 5-10, 165lbs., 27 yrs., joins the Battery after spending the last two years with the USL First Division Carolina RailHawks. Sanfilippo served as club captain with the RailHawks, previous clubs include the Rochester Rhinos and the Syracuse Salty Dogs. Sanfilippo joins pending USSF approval.

Charleston Battery head coach Mike Anhaeuser,

“Frankie is a consummate professional and leader and should help in stabilizing our back-line in 2009. He has proven to be one of the best defenders in the league over the past few years and we are very excited to have him join the Battery in Charleston.”

A native of San Diego, CA, Sanfilippo was originally drafted by Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes. In 2004 he joined the USL First Division Syracuse Salty Dogs and played 25 games under then head coach, Laurie Calloway.

In 2005 Calloway took over as head coach in Rochester, NY and took Sanfilippo with him to the Rhinos where he played 53 games, scoring one goal in two seasons. In 2006 Sanfilippo was a member of the Rhinos side that lost in the Championship game to Vancouver, he also was selected to the USL All-Star team.

In 2007 Sanfilippo joined the expansion Carolina RailHawks; he played 51 games for Carolina scoring one goal and was named club captain. During his time with the RailHawks Sanfilippo never lost a game versus the Charleston Battery. Prior to turning pro Sanfilippo attended San Jose State University where he studied Criminology.