A Look at Year 2 of MLS-USL PRO Partnership
April 22, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Eagles News Release
(Charlotte Eagles Assistant General Manager Andrew Pierce sat down with Eagles Executive Director, Soccer Program Development Tom Engstrom to discuss the Major League Soccer-USL PRO Partnership. The Eagles host the Chicago Fire Reserves on Friday, April 25th at 7 pm at the UNC Charlotte).
Andrew Pierce: "This is the second year of the Major League Soccer-USL PRO partnership ? Tom, can you tell us some of the details of what is happening through the partnership -
Tom Engstrom: "First of all, in general, I would say the partnership has been great for the growth of soccer and the development of players in this country. I will point to four things off the top of my head:
1. MLS "farm teams" in USL PRO. The LA Galaxy of MLS has put their own team, Galaxy II, in USL PRO. We expect several more MLS teams to field their own teams in the USL PRO in 2015. Just this past Saturday the Galaxy loaned Robbie Rogers from their first team to their USL PRO team. Robbie has 12 caps with the US National Team and was named to the MLS Best XI in 2008. Currently, Galaxy II is leading our league with a 3-1-1 record.2. MLS affiliations with USL PRO teams. Ten of the USL PRO franchises have affiliation agreements with MLS teams in which the USL PRO team receives MLS players on loan. The idea of course is for the MLS players to get valuable game experience which will help the players' career development. The poster boy for this is Dom Dwyer who last year was loaned from Sporting KC to Orlando. Unfortunately, Dwyer scored four goals against us in the USL PRO Final last year. After our season he went back to Sporting KC and scored the winning goal in the MLS semi-finals.3. MLS Reserve Games against USL PRO teams. Each USL PRO team will play two gamesagainst MLS Reserve teams as part of the USL PRO schedule. These games count for both the USL PRO standings and the MLS Reserve League standings. The Eagles will host the Chicago Fire Reserves this Friday, April 25th at UNCC at 7 pm. The Eagles will travel to play the Montreal Impact Reserves later in July.4. The chance to be seen. Players in our league know that MLS coaches are watching these games. This provides more of a chance for a player in our league to move on to MLS.
AP:"Sounds like there will be quite a few MLS players playing against the Eagles this year."
TE:"Correct. Almost every opponent will have a few players on loan from an MLS team.
AP:"What can we expect from the Chicago Fire Reserve team -
TE:"Most of the players will be players that didn't play 90 minutes in the Fire's last league game. Unlike some other sports only 11 to 14 of the 28 man roster will play in a given league game. Soccer players need to play regular minutes in games for fitness, sharpness, confidence and development. These reserve games provide minutes for the players who haven't played as many minutes in MLS games. A couple of players are generally younger players from their Academy System or perhaps a player that is trying out for the team. The Fire doesn't have a league game this weekend which means they will have a bigger pool of players to choose from this Friday."
AP:"Will the Eagles have any MLS players on loan this year?
TE:"Currently we have Giuseppe Gentile on loan from the Chicago Fire. He has done well in his limited time here. Of course, Giuseppe is well known locally from his excellent career at Ardrey Kell, Charlotte Soccer Academy and with the Charlotte 49ers!
AP: "Are the Eagles players looking forward to this Friday's game against the Fire?
TE: "Players always enjoy competing against good competition. It is a good measuring stick for our players.
Tickets for the Eagles-Fire match can be at www.charlotteeagles.com. If tickets are purchased online ahead of the game, they will be $7 for Adults and $5.50 for Children. Tickets will be $10 for Adults and $7 for Children on the day of the game.
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