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New York Red Bulls II features as RBNY tops Club America
Much like last year's mid-season friendly against Chelsea, the New York Red Bulls game on Wednesday evening against Club America gave many of the first-team reserves and NYRB II players a chance to feature. Of New York Red Bulls II, Florian Valot, Dan Metzger, Konrad Plewa, Devon 'Speedy' Williams, Zach Carroll, Vincent Bezecourt, Stefano Bonomo, Junior Flemmings, and Zoumana Simpara played in the team's 2-0 win.
Metzger's strike
Speaking of New York Red Bulls II players in that 2-0 win against Club America, Dan Metzger played. Oh, I already said that? Interesting. What I really meant is that he starred. It was Metzger's fantastic, though slightly deflected, strike that gave the New York Red Bulls the insurance goal they needed to see out the game.
Just watch it for yourself. What a beauty.
New names added to U23 squad, team continues to be average
This past week, New York Red Bulls U23 team has added six players to its already extensive roster. Mike Kapitula, Billy Stevens, Shelson Dorleans, Colin Stripling, Xavier Kennedy, and Andres Arcila. Kapitula and Stevens are former academy players, now both juniors at Michigan. Kennedy is a current academy player and U16 goalkeeping stud. Shelson Dorleans is a local goalkeeper, most recently at semi-pro team Icon FC. He played with the U23s four years ago and once had a trial with the first team. Colin Stripling a midfielder from Scotch Plains, will be a senior at Monmouth in the fall, while Andres Arcila, 20, was once a teenage trialist at the Colorado Rapids. He is now attending and playing at Seton Hall, where he will be a sophomore this coming school year. These moves are likely to bolster the team's numbers as many of the club's players are returning to college.
Since last check-in, the PDL team has lost 1-5 to Ocean City Nor'Easters and tied the Jersey Express 1-1. While not truly bad, this U23 team is a far cry from the team with won the NPSL two years ago or the team which reached the finals of the PDL last year.
Team of the Week and Midseason Awards
This week's USL team of the week doesn't feature any NYRBII players starting, but Ryan Meara does make the bench thanks to a strong performance against Rochester.
As the USL reaches its halfway point, the league site has decided to put out some fun polls on who has impressed most in this half season. For Rookie of the Year, NYRB II's Brandon Allen is one of the four nominees. Though he's slowed down from his hot start, Allen's five goals and two assists have certainly impressed many. Meanwhile, Ryan Meara, who leads the league in save percentage and goals-against average, is also in contention for Goalkeeper of the Year.
Vote here (RotY), here (GotY), and here (MVP).
II to face U20 NT in friendly
The New York Red Bulls II players showed strongly in one mid-season friendly, they'll soon have another. As the US' U20 team, featuring Red Bulls academy grads Marcello Borges and Andrew Lombard, returned from a quick tournament spin, Brian Sciaretta dropped a little nugget in his reflection piece. The U20's will reconvene later this month, with one of their opponents being NYRBII.
This will likely be a behind-closed-doors scrimmage, but should be a good exercise for the U20's to play a strong professional team, while NYRBII will also benefit from the experience, as it will pit a team backed by one of the strongest academies in the nation against the nation's very best of their age-group.