Smart and Pais look to aid the Foxes in their push for the USL Cup Playoffs.​

August 31, 2018

Fresno Football Club announced Friday it has signed midfielder Don Smart and goalkeeper Mark Pais for the remainder of the 2018 USL season. Smart joins the Foxes from Miami FC where he helped lead the club to the National Premier Soccer League National Championship and is immediately available for selection as Fresno FC continues to push for the USL Cup Playoffs. Pais will be available pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate, and league and federation approval. Smart, 30, led Miami FC 2 with a club-best seven assists in 2018, in a year that also saw him hoist the NPSL National Championship trophy for the second time. In 2013, he was a part of NPSL Championship side RVA Football Club. Before joining Miami FC 2, Smart spent four seasons playing for Indy Eleven in the North American Soccer League. At Indianapolis, Smart recorded 10 goals and 12 assists over 97 total appearances that included 58 starts. Pais, 27, last played for Toronto FC II where he appeared in 13 matches over the 2017 USL season while on loan from MLS parent club Toronto FC. He recorded three clean sheets during his time with TFC II. Pais spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons with Saint Louis FC where he made a total of 33 appearances, recording 92 saves and a 1.64 goals-against average. “We’re excited to announce the addition of Don and Mark to our club,” said head coach Adam Smith. “Don brings a lot of speed on the wings and we’ll hope to use him to unlock and open teams up with his pace. He’s coming from a championship winning team at Miami FC, so he knows what it takes to compete as we make our push for the USL Cup Playoffs. In Mark, we have another goalkeeper with an MLS background which adds more depth to that position as we head into this crucial part of the season.”