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Orlando City B has kicked off December by announcing some new recruits. Most notably, former New York Red Bulls defender Zach Carroll and RBNY Academy alum Scott Thomsen.
Carroll was RBNY's second pick of the 2016 SuperDraft, drafted in the second round, 38th overall. He signed a contract with the first team, but was subsequently cut and re-signed to NYRB II - the Red Bulls' USL side. He had a successful season with NYRB II, contributing significantly the team's regular-season title and the winning of the 2016 USL Cup. He was named to the 2016 USL All-League Second Team.
RBNY did have a contract option to extend Carroll's services, but declined to exercise it. The club announced the 22-year-old defender had been released on November 21.
The Red Bulls handed Scott Thomsen a Homegrown Contract in December 2015. The RBNY Academy graduate had a successful college career, winning the 2014 College Cup with the University of Virginia, and winning the 2014 NPSL Championship with RBNY U-23s (and current Red Bull Sean Davis). And he was part of the RBNY U-23 squad that made it to the 2015 PDL Championship game (losing to K-W United FC). Thomsen's stint as a senior Red Bull was brief: he was cut at the start of the 2016 season.
In July, he joined USL's Richmond Kickers. He scored one goal - against Orlando City B, as it happens.
Thomsen will turn 23 on December 31. Generally regarded as a left back, he is also capable of making memorable contributions from set pieces.
GIF: @NewYorkRedBulls U23 pulls a goal back as Scott Thomsen curls home a free kick to make it 3-1. #PDLChampionship pic.twitter.com/Hz8ALmrUQM
— USL PDL (@USLPDL) August 2, 2015
The pair of former Red Bulls continues Orlando City's recent fascination with ex-RBNY players. In 2016, OCSC drafted RBNY Academy graduate Antonio Matarazzo, and signed him to the B team. The Orlando City USL squad also signed Andrew Ribeiro (RBNY 2013 SuperDraft pick, now a stalwart USL player) and Marius Obekop (who was on RBNY's roster for three seasons, from 2013 to 2015).
All three former Red Bulls were released by OCSC B in November, clearly allowing the USL club to restock that part of its roster reserved for ex-RBNY players.