Chivas USA Part Ways with 10 Players

Published on November 21, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


CARSON, Calif. (Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013) - Chivas USA announced today that the club has sent back defenders Mario de Luna and Jaime Frias as well as midfielder Edgar Mejia and forward Julio Morales to Club Deportivo Guadalajara. In addition, the club has declined options for goalkeeper Patrick McLain, defender Steven Purdy, midfielders Daniel Antunez, Marvin Iraheta and Josue Soto, and forward Jose Manuel Rivera.

De Luna, a product of Chivas Guadalajara's youth academy, was acquired on loan in February of 2013. Since then he started in all 30 games played with the Red-and-White during the 2013 Major League Soccer campaign, where he scored one goal against the San Jose Earthquakes on April 27.

Along with De Luna, Mejia also arrived to Chivas USA in the 2013 preseason. The 25-year-old started as a holding midfielder in 27 of 28 games with the Red-and-White. Mejia scored his first and lone goal with the Goats against the Chicago Fire on March 24 to go along with four assists.

Morales, a 19-year-old forward, was the third player from Guadalajara to join the Red-and-White in February. The striker from Glendale, Calif. notched two goals in 17 appearances with the Rebaño Angelino.

Frias, 20, another product of Guadalajara's youth academy and Southern California native, signed with Chivas USA on July 18. The left back made his professional debut on Sept. 29, 2013, as a late first-half sub against the Earthquakes. Frias went on to start in three games to close out the season.

McLain, the team's third goalkeeper behind captain Dan Kennedy and backup Tim Melia, made his professional debut in 2013, as he was brought on to replace a red-carded Kennedy against Sporting Kansas City on May 5. McLain then made his first career start a week later as the Rojiblancos visited the Portland Timbers on May 12.

Purdy, a native of Northern California who has represented El Salvador's National Team most recently during Gold Cup competition, was signed by Chivas USA in February from the Timbers, where he spent the previous two years. While with the Goats, Purdy started in five of the eight games played. On Sept. 29, the center back went down with a season-ending injury after a collision with San Jose's Steven Lenhart.

In his first season with the Rojiblancos, Antunez made three appearances (one start) before suffering a season-ending knee injury at home on April 13 against the Colorado Rapids.

In his second year with the Red-and-White, Iraheta, a Salvadoran international, made his professional debut in the season opener against the Columbus Crew. Since then the 21-year-old appeared in 13 matches, coming off the bench on eight occasions.

Soto arrived to Chivas USA after spending his first two years in the League with the Houston Dynamo. The 24-year-old midfielder, who also made appearances at left back, made his professional debut on March 17 against the LA Galaxy and went on to play a total of 18 matches with the Goats.

Rivera was another member that arrived from brother club Guadalajara during the preseason. The Mexican forward featured in nine games, three as a starter, and became an indisputable leader with the Reserve Team.

Chivas USA would like to thank Antunez, De Luna, Frias, Iraheta, McLain, Mejia, Morales, Purdy, Rivera and Soto for their efforts and participation with the Rebaño Angelino.

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