NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



New York Red Bulls

New York Red Bulls Weekly Update

February 9, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York Red Bulls News Release


RED BULLS CONTINUE FLORIDA TRIP: The 2008 MLS Cup Finalist New York Red Bulls are now starting their second week in Bradenton, FL as part of their first preseason trip of the season. Thus far, the Red Bulls have gone 0-1-1 in preseason scrimmage action. In their first match on Wednesday, Feb. 4, the Red Bulls dropped a 1-0 decision to the United States Under-17 Men's National Team. With a team consisting mainly of younger players and trialists, the Red Bulls had a number of chances to score but they could not find the back of the net.

On Saturday, Feb. 7, the Red Bulls bounced back to earn a 4-4 tie against the Kansas City Wizards. Trialist forward Lionel St. Preux scored two goals while offseason acquisitions Mike Petke and Dominic Oduro put their names on the scoreboard. Jorge Rojas and Dane Richards also tallied assists.

This week, the Red Bulls have two more scrimmages. On Monday, the Red Bulls take on the Puerto Rico Islanders of USL-1 at 4 PM ET. Then on Friday, the Red Bulls face Toronto FC at 3 PM before returning to the New York/New Jersey area the following day.

NEW YORK RED BULLS SCHEDULE (Feb. 9-Feb. 15)

Please contact a member of the Red Bulls Communications Staff if you have any requests or questions.

This Week's Schedule (subject to change):

Monday, Feb. 9: Training at 8 AM ET. Red Bulls vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (USL-1) at 4 PM at IMG Academy

Tuesday, Feb. 10: Training in Bradenton, FL at 11 AM and 4 PM

Wednesday, Feb. 11: Training in Bradenton, FL at 8 AM and 4 PM

Thursday, Feb. 12: Training in Bradenton, FL at 10 AM and 4 PM

Friday, Feb. 13: Training in Bradenton, FL TBD. Red Bulls vs. Toronto FC at 3 PM

Saturday, Feb. 14: Team returns to NY/NJ area.

Sunday, Feb. 15: OFF

INJURY UPDATE:

- Forward Oscar Echeverry and goalkeeper Terry Boss are currently rehabbing from their respective knee surgeries last year.

- Midfielder Seth Stammler, who underwent knee surgery at the end of the 2008 regular season, is with the team in Florida. He started individual training last week.

- Defender Andrew Boyens underwent surgery on Wednesday, Jan. 28 to repair a fractured left forearm suffered during the team's playoff run. The forearm had not fully healed in the offseason and the team's medical consultants suggested that he should have the surgery so that it would be 100-percent by the time the season started. Boyens will be able to do non-contact activities, but is not expected to fully train with the team for 3-4 weeks. He joined the team in Bradenton last week and starting training individually this week.

- Midfielder Luke Sassano traveled to Florida but was nursing a high ankle sprain that he originally suffered in the Houston playoff series last year. Sassano played through the injury on the team's run to the MLS Cup Final. He started training with the team this week.

- Midfielder Michael Palacio has been experiencing pain in his surgically repaired knee. He started training with the team again this week.

- Defender Jack Traynor returned to training this week after suffering an ankle injury in practice.

ROJAS, RICHARDS CALLED UP TO NATIONAL TEAMS: Red Bulls Dane Richards and Jorge Rojas were called up to their respective national teams for friendlies on Wednesday. Rojas was called up to the Venezuelan National Team for their friendly against Guatemala in Maturin, Venezuela on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The Venezuelan captain left the team Sunday. Richards was called into the Jamaican National Team's squad for their friendly against Nigeria on Feb. 11 at the New Den Stadium in London, England. However, he has experienced visa issues and has stayed with the team.

Rojas joined the Red Bulls on July 17, 2008 and recorded five assists in 11 games played. The second most capped player in Venezuelan National Team history, Rojas has played 89 times for his country. Rojas was the Red Bulls' 2008 Newcomer of the Year and appeared in two playoff games for New York.

Now in his third season with the Red Bulls, Richards, the 2006 MLS Rookie of the Year finalist, enjoyed a strong sophomore season, recording a career-high three goals to go along with a team-high six assists in 23 appearances and 18 starts. The 25-year-old, who missed time last season due to a variety of injuries, played in all four playoff games in the Red Bulls' run to their first MLS Cup Final. He was instrumental in the team's Western Conference Semifinal second leg match against the Houston Dynamo on Nov. 9, when he had a hand in each of the team's three goals in a 3-0 win. Richards won MLS Player of the Week for that performance. He also tallied an assist in the MLS Cup Final. In early Dec. 2008, Richards was called up for the Digicel Caribbean Championship, and helped Jamaica win the title after playing in all five games. He has earned 12 caps for Jamaica.

WOLY SIGNS NEW CONTRACT: Red Bull New York announced on Monday that it has signed forward John Wolyniec to a new contract. Per MLS and club regulations, specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"We are excited to have John back for the 2009 season," said Sporting Director Jeff Agoos. "With his hard work and dedication to the club, John has become a fan favorite during his multiple stints here. We look forward to his future contribution as a leader on and off the field."

Wolyniec, who was out of contract at the end of last season, is in the midst of his fourth stint with the Red Bulls. The Staten Island, NY native was instrumental in the Red Bulls' 2008 run to their first-ever MLS Cup Final, starting in all four playoff games and notching two goals and one assist in the playoffs. Wolyniec has the distinction of becoming the first player in club history to score in the MLS Cup Final in New York's 3-1 loss against the Columbus Crew at The Home Depot Center last November.

Starting his eighth season in New York, Wolyniec is sixth all-time in club history in regular season appearances (118) and fifth in goals (24). Over his MLS career, Wolyniec has enjoyed stints with the Chicago Fire (2000-01, 2002), New England Revolution (2001), Columbus Crew (2005-06) and Los Angeles Galaxy (2006). Originally drafted by New York in the first round (7th overall) in the 1999 MLS College Draft out of Fordham University, Wolyniec has accumulated 31 goals and 15 assists during his MLS career to go along with two caps for the U.S. Men's National Team.

BULLS TO FACE CRYSTAL PALACE BALTIMORE IN PRESEASON: The New York Red Bulls will take on United Soccer League Second Division side, Crystal Palace Baltimore, on March 12 at 7 PM in Annapolis' Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Last season, Crystal Palace Baltimore knocked off the Red Bulls in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, defeating New York, 2-0. Current Red Bulls midfielder and former Crystal Palace player Matthew Mbuta played a large role in that victory for Crystal Palace. Mbuta played in two matches for the Red Bulls in 2008, scoring one goal. Tickets for the match, priced at $16, are available by logging onto www.crystalpalaceusa.com or by calling 410-933-TEAM.

THE REMAINING PRESEASON SCHEDULE: Here is the rest of the Red Bulls training schedule prior to their home opener on March 19.

2009 NEW YORK RED BULLS PRESEASON SCHEDULE

Feb. 14 - Team returns to NY/NJ area from Bradenton, FL

Feb. 18-20 - Team trains in NY/NJ area.

Feb. 20 - Team leaves for Argentina (practice schedule/matches TBD)

March 9 - Team returns to NY/NJ area

March 12 - Red Bulls at Crystal Palace Baltimore at 7 PM in Annapolis, MD.

March 19 - Red Bulls at Seattle Sounders FC at 9 PM ET (TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)

BULLS KICK OFF '09 RUN AGAINST SOUNDERS: The 2008 MLS Cup Finalist New York Red Bulls announced their 2009 30-game MLS Regular Season Schedule, which begins on Thursday, March 19 when the Red Bulls open the MLS season and face expansion club, Seattle Sounders FC, at Qwest Field at 9:00 PM ET (TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes). A full schedule with dates and times can be found at www.newyorkredbulls.com.

Kicking off the season with three of their first four games on the road, the Red Bulls return to Giants Stadium on April 18 at 7:30 PM to face Real Salt Lake in a rematch of last year's Western Conference Final. Eight days later, the Red Bulls take on Luciano Emilio and D.C. United in the first of two meetings between the Atlantic Cup rivals at 3:00 PM at Giants Stadium.

New York will have a four-game homestand in the month of May, highlighted by visits from American forward Brian Ching and the Houston Dynamo (May 16, 7:30 PM) and Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco and the Chicago Fire (May 24, 3:00 PM). In their only home match in the month of June, the Red Bulls welcome Designated Player Freddie Ljungberg and Seattle Sounders FC for the first time to the Meadowlands (June 20, 7:30 PM). Less than a month later, former Red Bulls Sporting Director and head coach Bruce Arena makes his return against his old club when the Los Angeles Galaxy visits Giants Stadium on July 18 at 6:00 PM.

The Red Bulls will start a five-game homestand in August. On Aug. 30 at 6:00 PM, the Red Bulls host reigning MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto and the Columbus Crew in a rematch of the 2008 MLS Cup Final. At the end of the homestand, the Red Bulls will battle I-95 foe, New England, for the third time in 2009 in a Friday night showdown at Giants Stadium (Sept. 18, 7:30 PM). New York will face rivals New England and Toronto FC three times in 2009 and will play every other MLS team twice (home and away).

The Red Bulls will appear four times on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, six times on Fox Soccer Channel and five times on TeleFutura.

IN AND OUT: The Red Bulls have several new faces on their team in 2009 as well as others who departed in the offseason. Here is a list:

New Players (5):

Jeremy Hall (Selected in the first round (11th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 15, 2009)

Dominic Oduro (Acquired in a trade with FC Dallas on Jan. 13, 2009)

Mike Petke (Acquired in 2008 MLS Waiver Draft on Nov. 26, 2008)

Jack Traynor (Selected in the second round (29th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 15, 2009)

Nick Zimmerman (Selected in the third round (44th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 15, 2009)

Players who have left (7):

Gabriel Cichero (Waived on Nov. 26, 2009)

John Gilkerson (Did not return to team after 2008 season)

Diego Jimenez (Returned to Tecos after loan expired with New York on Dec. 31, 2008)

Gordon Kljestan (Waived on Nov. 26, 2009)

Mike Magee (Traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy on Jan. 14, 2009)

Jeff Parke (Selected by Seattle Sounders FC in 2008 MLS Expansion Draft on Nov. 26, 2008)

Sainey Touray (Waived on Nov. 26, 2009)

Dave van den Bergh (Traded to FC Dallas on Jan. 13, 2009)

The Red Bulls must trim their roster to 24 players (between 18-20 senior roster players and the rest developmental) before the start of the season. Last year, each team was allowed a 28-man roster (18 senior, 10 developmental).

2009 SEASON TICKETS ARE ON SALE: New York Red Bulls 2009 season tickets are on sale now to the general public through the Red Bulls front office and team website (www.newyorkredbulls.com). By becoming a season ticket holder - a Red Bulls Member - in 2009, fans will be assigned a Priority Number for the seat relocation process which will guarantee each Red Bulls Member a seat in the Red Bulls new 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium -- Red Bull Arena, under construction in Harrison, New Jersey. Red Bulls Members with a Priority Number will have the first chance to pick their seat locations at Red Bull Arena based on their number. To purchase 2009 season tickets, please call 1.877.RBSOCCER or log onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.

As a Red Bulls Member, fans receive a ticket to all 2009 Red Bulls Matches, including playoffs, a Priority Number for Red Bull Arena, Members-only access to the Bulls' Corner Pub both pre-game and post-game, a Ticket Exchange Program for unused tickets, invitations to exclusive Meet the Team Day Events, a RBNY hooded sweatshirt made by adidas (one per seat on account), access to the Red Bulls priority purchase windows for select international matches at Giants Stadium and much more. As a Bull's Eye Member, fans receive all the same benefits, plus access to a private lounge for complimentary pre-game hospitality and a season parking pass.

Red Bull New York also announced that there will be no increase in season ticket pricing from 2008. Plus, for 2009, the Red Bulls announced a new price category - Endline Bull's Eye seating -- of which there are only 56 available seats. For just $882 per seat, a fan can sit in the front row in the East End Zone and enjoy all of the benefits of a Bull's Eye Membership.

Pricing for Full Season Tickets for 2009 are as follows: Seat Location Price Per Seat

Bull's Eye Memberships

Bull's Eye (North and South Touchlines) $1,088

*NEW*Endline Bull's Eye (East End Zone) $882

Red Bulls Memberships

Midfield (Adult) $528

Midfield (Youth) $352

Sideline (Adult) $368

Sideline (Youth) $256

Corner Flag $272

Check out the New York Red Bulls Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...

Major League Soccer Stories from February 9, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central