FORT LAUDERDALE— The Fort Lauderdale Strikers announced today that they have picked up the option for midfielder Mark Anderson for the 2014 North American Soccer League (NASL) season. As per club policy, the terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Anderson, 24, signed with the club in 2012 and immediately made an impact, leading the team in goals with 11. He finished his rookie season with two NASL Offensive Player of the Week honors, and earned a place on the NASL Best XI.
Anderson was plagued with injuries in 2013, playing just over 500 minutes, scoring two goals and one assist for the year.
"Mark Anderson has shown that he is one of the top players in the NASL when healthy,” said Strikers Managing Director Tim Robbie. “We're optimistic that he will regain his 2012 form next season and return to his status as one of the dominant players in the League."
Anderson enjoyed a very successful college soccer career at Barry University between 2008 and 2011. In four seasons he scored a total of 59 goals and racked up 32 assists in 74 appearances. Anderson was named 2011 Daktronics DII National Soccer Player of the Year and 2011 Capital One Academic All-America of the Year for DII men's soccer.
A former youth scholar at Sunderland A.F.C., Anderson represented Great Britain at the 2011 World University Games in Shenzhen, China. Anderson started every game for Great Britain, scoring twice en route to an appearance in the final. The team collected silver medals having lost 2-0 to Japan in the championship game.