Men's Soccer | 2/21/2017 3:31:00 PM

Charlotte, N.C.----Wingate University All-American midfielder Callum Ross (Newcastle, England) has signed with the Charlotte Independence of the United Soccer League, team officials announced Tuesday afternoon. The redshirt junior co-captain helped lead the Bulldogs to the first NCAA national title in Wingate University history this past December.

"The family feel of Wingate and especially the soccer team has really helped me over the last four years," Ross says. "It's helped me adapt to life in America and I've made life-long friends on the team and within the coaching staff. The program has helped me grow as a person and a player. I am very grateful for the opportunity that Wingate has given me over the last four years. With the last year being so successful, I feel as though it's held me in good stead to move onto the next level. A massive thank you to everyone involved in the Wingate soccer program in making it a successful and enjoyable chapter in my life."
Ross earned honorable mention honors from the D2CCA in 2016 to go along with first team All-SAC and All-Region accolades. The midfielder had eight goals and three assists on the year, netting three game-winning goals. He netted the game-winning goal against Limestone in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

"I'm very happy for Callum," Wingate head coach Gary Hamill says. "He has had such a massive impact for our team over the last four years and now it's time for him to move on to the next chapter of his life. We all wish him the best of luck."

Ross helped the Bulldogs lead the nation in goals-against average in 2016. Wingate allowed only eight goals in 20 games, notching 12 shutouts while never allowing multiple goals in a game. The 'Dogs registered shutouts in each of the five NCAA Tournament games, blanking the nation's top two scoring offenses in the process.

Ross had seven goals and five assists during the 2015 season, after missing all but four games due to injury in 2014. He helped the Bulldogs win both the South Atlantic Conference regular season and tournament titles while earning second team All-SAC accolades. Ross collected 15 goals and nine assists during his Bulldog career, making 55 starts.

The Charlotte Independence will play their first preseason match this weekend. The regular season gets underway Saturday, April 1 against the Charleston Battery. Charlotte went 14-8-8 during the 2016 season.

About the Charlotte Independence

The Charlotte Independence joined the United Soccer League (USL) as an expansion team in September 2014. An ownership group led by Jim McPhilliamy, the President & Managing Partner of Major League Lacrosse's Charlotte Hounds, acquired the USL franchise rights for the city from the Charlotte Eagles in the summer of 2014. The Independence, owned and operated by Queen City Soccer Club LLC, began play in spring 2015. Charlotte plays its first preseason match this weekend.

About the USL

The USL is the world's largest Division II professional soccer league, with 30 markets in 20 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces for the 2017 season. In total, the USL reaches a population of 75 million people, fueling the growth of professional soccer across North America.

In 2016, over $100 million were invested league-wide into stadium infrastructure to create venues that deliver an unforgettable fan and competitor experience. The USL has national media partnerships with ESPN and SiriusXM, and recently invested $10 million to create USL Productions – which includes a state-of-the-art facility that will produce and distribute nearly 500 league matches and over 1,000 hours of original content to national partners, local affiliates, USL's Match Center and international markets.

A growing league, the USL has more than doubled in size since 2014, with the Ottawa Fury FC, Reno 1868 FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies scheduled to debut in 2017. Nashville SC is the first club set to join the league for 2018. Beyond league play, the USL regularly features international exhibitions against leading Premier League, LigaMX, and Bundesliga clubs, among others.

Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., the USL provides unparalleled club support with a growing team of almost 50 professionals across 17 departments, ranging from operations to marketing, communications, and sponsorship.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Wingate University, consistently ranked as a top 10 "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,100 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 34 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, master's degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport management and doctorates in pharmacy, physical therapy and education.
 
With a 15 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 10 years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 88 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate is number one in this millennium with 88 Academic All-America® honorees. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 97 lifetime Academic All-America® picks. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.