FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution today signed three players to the roster: forward Blake Brettschneider, midfielder Alec Purdie and midfielder Michael Roach. Per league and club policy, further contract details will not be released.
Brettschneider joined the team on trial this preseason after being waived by D.C. United in early February, while the Revolution drafted Purdie and Roach in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft. All three players will be added to the team’s roster immediately.
“Blake, Alec and Mike are all talented, young players who we believe will provide us depth and help push our team every day in training,” General Manager Michael Burns said. “All three had good preseasons with us and earned their spots on our squad.”
Brettschneider, 22, played the 2011 season with D.C. United after the club drafted him in the second round (21st overall) of the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft. He made 15 appearances, including nine starts, for United while scoring one goal and adding two assists. He also scored three goals in MLS Reserve League action, including two against the Revolution on March 26, 2011. Brettschneider played collegiately at South Carolina, scoring 19 goals and adding 17 assists in 75 career contests. As a senior, he earned Conference USA Co-MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors when he recorded seven goals and a league-high 10 assists.
Purdie, 23, scored 12 goals and added 10 assists in 63 games during his four seasons played at Indiana. After redshirting as a freshman in 2006, he became a key contributor for the Hoosiers. The Indiana native earned 2011 All-Big Ten honors and started each of the Hoosiers’ 22 matches – scoring eight goals – his senior year. With eight goals, he finished the season ranked third on the team and tied for fourth in the Big Ten. The Revolution drafted him in the second round (22nd overall) of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.
Roach, 23, played three seasons at Saint Louis University after playing one season at Indiana University. He scored 14 goals and seven assists in three seasons, pushing his career totals to 15 goals and eight assists. In his first season with the Billikens in 2009, Roach, a St. Louis, Mo., native, tallied 11 goals – paving the way for 2010 preseason All-America and A-10 all-conference honors. In 10 appearances as a senior, his four assists were a team-best. The Revolution drafted him in the fourth round (60th overall) of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.
The Revolution opens the 2012 season on Saturday, March 10, on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET. The match will be televised by Comcast SportsNet, and 98.5 The Sports Hub will carry the game on the radio.
For up-to-the-minute information on the Revolution, visit the team’s official web site at revolutionsoccer.net, or follow the team on Twitter at @NERevolution, or on Facebook at facebook.com/NERevolution.
The Revolution offers a variety of ticket options. Four- and six-game mini-game plans are on sale now and start at $84 for Category 3 tickets. Season tickets for the 2012 New England Revolution season are also on sale and start at $252 for 18-game packages. Individual game tickets are also now on sale. Call 1-877-GET-REVS or visit revolutionsoccer.net for more information about these plans or any other ticket option.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution (MLS) – Signed F Blake Brettschneider, M Alec Purdie and M Michael Roach
BLAKE BRETTSCHNEIDER
Pronunciation: BRET-shny-der
Position: Forward
Date of Birth: April 11, 1989 (Lilburn, Ga.)
Hometown: Lilburn, Ga.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175 lbs.
Previous Club: D.C. United (MLS)
College: South Carolina
Youth Club: Atlanta Fire
Nationality: U.S.
Status: Senior Roster
Jersey Number: 23
ALEC PURDIE
Pronunciation: PURR-dee
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: November 24, 1988 (Elkhart, Ind.)
Hometown: Elkhart, Ind.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 185
College: Indiana
Youth Club: Carmel United
Nationality: U.S.
Status: Senior Roster
Jersey Number: 99
MICHAEL ROACH
Pronunciation: ROWCH
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: November 18, 1988 (St. Louis, Mo.)
Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
College: Saint Louis
Youth Club: Scott Gallagher
Nationality: U.S.
Status: Senior Roster
Jersey Number: 6
