FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Revolution II continue to bolster the team’s inaugural USL League One roster with the additions of defender Simon Lekressner, defender Oskar Bloch, and goalkeeper Joe Rice, pending league and federation approval, bringing the second-team roster to 14 players ahead of the March 28 season opener at Gillette Stadium vs. Orlando City B.
Lekressner, 21, was selected by New England with the 30th-overall pick in the second round of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft after a four-year career at the University of California. Prior to signing with Revolution II, he had been training with the first team during its preseason trips to Los Angeles and Portland, logging 180 minutes across three games, plus an additional 45-minute outing in a scrimmage against the University of Portland. In four years with the Golden Bears, the Bellevue, Wash. native totaled 65 appearances, with 35 starts, and won the 2019 Pac-12 Scholar of the Year Award. As a senior, Lekressner posted a career-high five goals, including two game-winning strikes, and two assists. In the youth ranks, he was named the 2014-15 U.S. Development Academy Player of the Year for the West region and captained his Under-15/16 USSDA team, scoring 31 goals in 29 matches.
Bloch, 19, joins Revolution II from Akademisk Boldklub in his native Denmark and will be officially added to the roster pending receipt of his P-1 visa. He transferred to Akademisk in January from Slagelse B&I in Denmark’s second tier, making 13 league appearances, including 11 90-minute performances and three clean sheets. The six-foot-two center back developed in the FC Midtjylland Academy in Denmark, and represented the club’s Under-19 team in the Danish Youth League and UEFA Youth League during the 2018-19 campaign. He featured in the starting lineup for Midtjylland’s U-19s in the UEFA Youth League quarterfinals against FC Porto, and made two appearances in the 2019 Danish Cup.
Rice, 23, becomes the lone member of Revolution II to have played in USL League One’s first season, suiting up for the Richmond Kickers in 2019. A native of Fairfax, Va., he saw action in three games last season for Richmond, including two starts. Prior to joining the professional ranks, Rice played one season for Lionsbridge FC of the Premier Development League (now USL League Two), seeing action in 12 games. Rice graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he made six appearances and one start for the Rams.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution II sign defender Simon Lekressner, defender Oskar Bloch, and goalkeeper Joe Rice pending league and federation approval on Mar. 3, 2020.
SIMON LEKRESSNER
Position: Defender
Pronunciation: leh-KRESS-nurr
Height: 5-8
Weight: 155
Date of Birth: 09/01/1998 (Bellevue, Wash.)
Hometown: Bellevue, Wash.
College: California
Nationality: United States
How Acquired: Selected in the second round (30th overall) of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft and signed to Revolution II USL League One roster on March 3, 2020.
OSKAR BLOCH
Position: Defender
Pronunciation: OSS-ker BLOCK
Height: 6-2
Weight: 170
Date of Birth: 10/20/2000 (Denmark)
Nationality: Denmark
Last Club: Akademisk Boldklub (DEN)
How Acquired: Signed to Revolution II USL League One roster on March 3, 2020.
JOE RICE
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-4
Weight: 175
Date of Birth: 03/06/1996 (Richmond, Va.)
Hometown: Fairfax, Va.
College: Virginia Commonwealth
Nationality: United States
Last Club: Richmond Kickers (USL1)
How Acquired: Signed to Revolution II USL League One roster on March 3, 2020.
