Photo: Courtesy of Ocean City Nor’easters

A relatively slow week for our area players gives us an opportunity to touch on one overlooked story from the last month. Philadelphia native and San Antonio Scorpions defender Chris Williams recently announced his retirement from soccer for personal reasons.

Williams was born in Philadelphia and, after graduating from Cheltenham High School, attended Philadelphia University from 2002-2005. During college he also made 28 appearances with the Ocean City Barons (now the Nor’easters) in the USL PDL from 2004 to 2006. After graduating from college in 2007, he started out his professional career playing with both the Philadelphia Kixx of the MISL, where he saw the field 25 times and scored a goal, and outdoor for Miami FC of the then USL-1 league, making 52 appearances in 2 years with a single goal.

After establishing himself in the Miami FC backline, Chris Williams’ decided to ply his trades abroad. In 2010 Williams joined Da Nang FC of Vietnam’s V-League, who had just won the league and cup double after nearly twenty years without a league championship.

After impressing in Da Nang’s preseason, Williams stepped in as a regular starter at center back for the team and helped the club continue their solid form. Williams’s stint with Da Nang gave him the opportunity to play in the Asian Champions League, though losing in the qualifying play-off stage to Thai top team Muangthong United FC. The team also made an impressive run at the AFC Cup, making it to the semifinals before losing to Bahraini side Al-Riffa SC.

After suffering injury with Da Nang, the team terminated his contract in June 2011. Williams took this opportunity to return to the US to be close to his family and keep fit with the Ocean City Nor’easters. In 2012, Williams made his return to Vietnam, signing for Becamex Binh Duong FC of the V-League.

Chris Williams returned to the States and played the 2012-13 Major Indoor Soccer League season with eventual champions Baltimore Blast alongside fellow Ocean City alums Tony Donatelli and J.T. Noone. In March of this year, Williams signed with the San Antonio Scorpions of the NASL, where he was reunited with former Nor’easters teammate Pat Hannigan, and played in front of fellow local Jeremy Vuolo. Williams played 440 minutes with the club at both center back and right back across four league games and one U.S. Open Cup match. Upon the announcement of his retirement, Scorpions coach Tim Hankinson noted “Chris was a true professional in every sense of the word and added something special to the club on and off the field.”

Major League Soccer

Chris Albright, D, Philadelphia Union — In the 18, but did not play on Wednesday and Saturday. Season: 2 games, 1 clean sheet.

Greg Cochrane, D, Los Angeles Galaxy — Did not play. Season: 10 games, 7 starts, 2 clean sheets.

Bobby Convey, M, Toronto FC — Started and played 90 minutes in Wednesday’s 3-3 draw with Montreal, providing an assist in the 6^th minute. Season: 10 games, 8 starts, 1 assist.

Ryan Finley, F, Columbus Crew — Did not play. Season: 4 games.

Dan Gargan, D, San Jose Earthquakes — Played 6 minutes in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss at Chicago. Started and played 90 minutes in Saturday’s 2-0 loss at New England. Season: 6 games, 5 starts, 1 assist, 1 clean sheet.

Corey Hertzog, F, Vancouver Whitecaps — Started and played 82 minutes in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Kansas City. Started and played 64 minutes in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Seattle, providing an assist in the 4^th minute. Season: 6 games, 5 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist.

Antoine Hoppenot, F, Philadelphia Union — Played 29 minutes in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at Real Salt Lake. Started and played 90 minutes in Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Houston. Season: 17 games, 1 start, 2 goals, 1 assist.

Jeff Larentowicz, M, Chicago Fire — Started and played 90 minutes in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over San Jose. Started and played 90 minutes in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Kansas City, providing an assist in the 38^th minute. Season: 16 games, 15 starts, 1 goal, 3 assists.

Jeff Parke, D, Philadelphia Union — Started and played 90 minutes in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at Real Salt Lake. Started and played 90 minutes in Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Houston. Season: 16 games, 16 starts, 3 clean sheets.

Ryan Richter, D, Toronto FC — Started and played 90 minutes in Wednesday’s 3-3 draw with Montreal. Season: 12 games, 11 starts, 1 clean sheet.

Marcus Tracy, F, San Jose Earthquakes — Played 4 minutes in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss at Chicago. Played 14 minutes in Saturday’s 2-0 loss at New England. Season: 5 games.

Bobby Warshaw, D, FC Dallas — In the 18, but did not play on Thursday. Did not play on Sunday. Season: 8 games, 1 start, 1 clean sheet.

Andrew Wenger, F, Montreal Impact — In the 18, but did now play on Wednesday. Played 4 minutes in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chivas U.S.A. Season: 12 games, 6 starts, 1 goal, 3 assists.

U.S. Open Cup

Jeff Larentowicz, M, Chicago Fire — Next game scheduled for August 7, 2013. Tournament: 3 games, 1 start.

NASL

Pat Hannigan, GK, San Antonio Scorpions — In the 18, but did not play. Season: 6 games, 6 starts, 20 saves, 11 goals against.

Jeremy Vuolo, GK, San Antonio Scorpions — Started and played 90 minutes in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Carolina, recording 9 saves and 0 goals against. Season: 5 games, 4 starts, 18 saves, 3 goal against.

USL PRO

Tyler Bellemy, D, Rochester Rhinos — Started and played 90 minutes in Thursday’s 3-1 loss at Dayton. Played 22 minutes in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Charlotte. Season: 10 games, 6 starts, 4 clean sheets.

Thomas Brandt, D, Harrisburg City Islanders — Did not play. Season: 3 games, 2 starts.

Tony Donatelli, M, VSI Tampa Bay — No game this week. Season: 16 games, 15 starts, 1, goal, 2 assists.

Cristhian Hernandez, M, Harrisburg City Islanders — In the 18, but did not play for Philadelphia on Saturday. Season: 13 games, 10 starts, 3 goals, 3 assists.

Morgan Langley, F, Harrisburg City Islanders — Played 28 minutes in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Wilmington. Season: 13 games, 9 starts, 4 goals.

Jimmy McLaughlin, M, Harrisburg City Islanders — In the 18, but did not play for Philadelphia on Saturday.  Season: 12 games, 5 starts, 3 goals.

J.T. Noone, M, VSI Tampa Bay — No game this week. Season: 16 games, 16 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist.

Jason Pelletier, M, Harrisburg City Islanders — Started and played 69 minutes in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Wilmington. Season: 11 games, 11 starts, 1 assist.

Mike Seamon, M, Pittsburgh Riverhounds — Did not play. Season: 10 games, 10 starts.

Andrew Welker, F, Harrisburg City Islanders — Did not play. Season: 1 game, 1 start.

Jason Yeisley, F, Richmond Kickers — Started and played 90 minutes in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Dayton, providing an assist in the 59^th minute. Season: 10 games, 9 starts, 1 goal, 2 assists.

Colin Zizzi, D, Harrisburg City Islanders — Started and played 69 minutes in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Wilmington. Season: 13 games, 13 starts, 1 assist, 2 clean sheets.

Finnish Veikkausliiga (Premier Division)

Jon Okafor, M, MYPA — Did not play. Season: 17 games, 6 starts.

Finnish Kakkonen (Second Division)

Alex DeJohn, D, Ekenäs IF — Started and played 90 minutes in Saturday’s 2-1 win over BK-46. Season: 13 games, 13 starts, 7 clean sheets.

Norwegian First Division

Zarek Valentin, D, FK Bodø/Glimt — Started and played 90 minutes in Wednesday 1-0 (5-3 P.K.) NM Cup loss to FK Haugesund. Started and played 90 minutes in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Fredrikstad FK. Season: 13 games, 13 starts, 7 clean sheets. Cup: 3 games, 3 starts, 1 clean sheet.

Swedish Superettan

Billy Schuler, M, Hammarby IF — No game this week. Season: 10 games, 7 starts, 1 goal.

Swedish Division 1 North

Anthony Allison, F, Umeå FC — Started and played 81 minutes in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Nyköping BIS.  Season: 13 games, 12 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist.