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Today, the USL PDL released the New York Red Bulls U23 team's roster.
Name | Year | Position | College Team | Homegrown Eligible |
Anderson Asiedu | Freshman | Midfielder | Monmouth | No |
Arun Basuljevic | Sophomore | Midfielder | Georgetown | Yes |
Robert Edwards | Sophomore | Goalkeeper | St. Joseph's | No |
Sevag Kherlopian | Sophomore | Forward | Kean | No |
Eric Klenofsky | Junior | Goalkeeper | Monmouth | No |
Zach Knudson | Sophomore | Midfielder | NC State | No |
Christopher Lema | Sophomore | Midfielder | Georgetown | Yes |
Ethan Lochner | Freshman | Midfielder/Forward | Georgetown | Yes |
Henry Martin | Freshman | Defender | Princeton | Yes |
Nicholas Melo | Junior | Midfielder | UNC | No |
Juan Sanchez | Freshman | Forward | Tulsa | Yes |
Jared Stroud | Sophomore | Midfielder | Colgate | No |
Kyle Zajec | Freshman | Midfielder | Georgetown | Yes |
Featuring only 13 players, this is likely only the initial roster; expect more players to be added later. However, the team has a US Open Cup game on Wednesday the 11th, so it makes sense that there is at least some semblance of a squad getting ready to play.
NYRB U23 play in the USL PDL, in the fourth division of American soccer, having moved from the (also fourth division) NPSL before last summer. The team is made up of college players and a few recent college graduates and serves as an amateur team for New York Red Bulls Academy players to train with in the summer while still maintaining their college eligibility. Through NYRB U23, players are able to maintain their homegrown status with the team, while giving the team the ability to more intently scout non-academy players. Alumni of the U23 team include: Alex Muyl, Tim Schmoll, Sean Davis, Brandon Allen, Chris Thorsheim, Scott Thomsen, and Mael Corboz.
While it is certainly too early to speculate about names not on the roster, as it is only 13 people, the presence of former academy players Arun Basuljevic and Juan Sebastian Sanchez should have fans particularly excited as they represent two of the top academy graduates in college right now.
NYRB U23 starts their season away against the New York Pancyprian Freedoms next Wednesday in a US Open Cup game. Join the fans going out to support the Baby Bulls!