BALTIMORE – The New England Revolution today selected five players in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, highlighted by the team’s first round selection, chosen sixth overall, AJ Soares, a central defender from the University of California.
In later rounds, the team selected:
• MID Stephen McCarthy (University of North Carolina) in the second round (24th overall)
• FWD Steven Perry (Notre Dame) in the third round (39th overall)
• F/M Ryan Kinne (Monmouth) in the third round (42nd overall)
• F Alan Koger (William & Mary) in the third round (54th overall)
“We’re very pleased with our selections today,” Revolution Vice President of Player Personnel Michael Burns said. “We believe we were able to address all of our needs to a certain extent, and add depth in each position – we were able to draft a defender, a midfielder and several forwards. It’s not every year we come to the draft and are able to do that.”
Because Soares and McCarthy signed contracts with Major League Soccer before the draft, they will automatically be added to the Revolution's roster. Perry, Kinne and Koger will be invited to the team's preseason training camp.
Soares, 22, is coming off a season in which he earned 2010 NSCAA First-Team All-America honors and was the Pac-10 Player of the Year. He anchored a defense that allowed just 17 goals in 20 games, while scoring five goals and adding one assist. In his career, Soares started all 77 matches in which he appeared for the Golden Bears, scoring 10 goals and adding four assists. He also served as a tri-captain for the club that finished the 2010 season ranked fifth in the final polls.
McCarthy, 22, was an all-region selection in 2010 at North Carolina after starting 17 of the 18 games in which he appeared. He helped lead the Tar Heels to the 2010 NCAA national semifinal, where he scored the team’s lone goal in the 2-1 loss. McCarthy transferred to Carolina in January 2009, after spending the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 (medical redshirt) seasons at Santa Clara, starting all but one game in which he appeared. He had 10 goals and three assists in his career between the two schools.
Perry, 22, scored 12 goals and added four assists in 20 matches for the Fighting Irish in 2010. He earned All-Big East honors and was a second-team all-region selection. A former track and field athlete and football kicker, Perry spent four seasons at Notre Dame, appearing in 65 matches while scoring 15 goals and adding eight assists.
Kinne, 21, was an NSCAA All-American, Hermann Trophy semifinalist and Northeast Conference player of the year in both his junior and senior seasons at Monmouth. In 77 career games, he scored 35 goals, including 12 as a senior in 2010. He also added 21 assists, including six as a senior.
Koger, 23, was an all-region selection following his senior season at William & Mary after scoring 10 goals in 22 matches. He scored a total of 29 goals in his four-year career for the Tribe after redshirting his freshman season. As a senior, he helped push William & Mary to a No. 9 ranking during the season and a berth in the NCAA Tournament third round.
The Revs are scheduled to open preseason camp on January 31, 2011. 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.
Four-game mini-plans are on sale now for the 2011 season, and start at $68. The four-game plans include tickets to the home opener against D.C. United on Saturday, March 26, and three additional stand-alone games, a 2011 Revolution calendar and a choice of one of four exclusive gifts. Season tickets for the 2011 New England Revolution season are also on sale – including packages for the newly-opened West Side seats – and start at $234 for 18-game packages. 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) – Drafted D AJ Soares, M Stephen McCarthy, F Steven Perry, F/M Ryan Kinne and F Alan Koger.
AJ SOARES
Pronunciation: SORES
Position: Defender
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
DOB: Nov. 28, 1988 (San Diego, Calif.)
Hometown: Solanda Beach, Calif.
College: California
Youth Club: Surf Club
Nationality: USA
How Acquired: Selected in the first round (sixth overall) in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft
STEPHEN McCARTHY
Position: Midfield
Height: 6-4
Weight: 185
DOB: July 21, 1988 (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
College: North Carolina
Youth Club: Dallas Texans
Nationality: USA
How Acquired: Selected in the second round (24th overall) in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft
STEVEN PERRY
Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
DOB: September 7, 1988
Hometown: Edmond, Okla.
College: Notre Dame
Youth Club: Padova ‘89
Nationality: USA
How Acquired: Selected in the third round (39th overall) in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft
RYAN KINNE
Pronunciation: KIN-nee
Position: Forward/Midfield
Height: 5-8
Weight: 160
DOB: August 31, 1989
Hometown: Naugatuck, Connecticut
College: Monmouth
Youth Club: South Central Premier/New York Red Bulls U-23
Nationality: USA
How Acquired: Selected in the third round (42nd overall) in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft
ALAN KOGER
Pronunciation: KOE-ger
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180
DOB: Sept. 23, 1987
Hometown: Spencer, Va.
College: William & Mary
Youth Club: Greensboro Soccer Club
Nationality: USA
How Acquired: Selected in the third round (56th overall) in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft
