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MLS New England Revolution

Revolution Complete Multi-Player Trade With Colorado Rapids

January 22, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Revolution today acquired goalkeeper Preston Burpo, defender Cory Gibbs, allocation money and a third-round selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for the rights to midfielder Jeff Larentowicz and midfielder Wells Thompson. Per league and team policies, further details of the deal were not announced.

"We're pleased that we were able to complete this trade and bring Preston and Cory to the Revolution," New England Vice President of Player Personnel Michael Burns said. "We have areas that need addressing this off-season and we feel this trade helps in some of those areas.

"Preston has tremendous game experience and has proven to be a very capable goalkeeping option when called upon," Burns continued. "Cory is a very experienced, versatile defender who will help anchor our backline. We look forward to bringing both Preston and Cory into camp and getting them acclimated to the team."

Burpo, 37, is expected to step into the Revolution's lineup immediately while starting goalkeeper Matt Reis continues to recover from off-season shoulder surgery. Burpo has six seasons of Major League Soccer experience, and has played 15 seasons overall after spending parts of nine years with the Seattle Sounders during the team's days in the United Soccer Leagues.

He made 24 appearances for the Rapids in the last two seasons, recording a 1.67 goals against average, 6-10-8 record and four shutouts. In his MLS career, Burpo has made 46 appearances - including 19 in 2006 with Chivas USA - with a 1.43 GAA and 10 shutouts. He began his MLS career in 2000 with Kansas City before moving to Colorado (2000-01). He signed with Chivas USA in 2006, spending two years with the Goats and making 22 starts. After a brief stint with San Jose to start 2008, Burpo was traded to Colorado in May of that year.

Burpo's time with the USL-1 Sounders began in 1997 and he left the team as the club's leader in several goalkeeping categories: games (143), saves (631) and minutes (12,846). He had a career USL-1 GAA of 1.14.

He played collegiate soccer at Southern New Hampshire University (1991-94) and professional indoor soccer with the Boston Storm and New Hampshire Phantoms.

Gibbs, 30, is entering his fourth MLS season having spent the last two in Colorado after returning to MLS from England in August 2008. Gibbs, who played collegiately at Brown, began his professional career in 2001 in Germany with St. Pauli (2001-03) before joining MLS' Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas), where he made 21 appearances. In 2005, Gibbs transferred to Feyenoord of the Netherland's Eredivisie, and later played with Den Hagg, also in the Eredivisie, before joining England's Charlton Athletic in 2006.

He suffered a knee injury while with the U.S. National Team in early 2006, which kept him out of both the 2006 FIFA World Cup - he was originally named to the U.S. squad before being replaced - and Charlton's lineup and allowing him only reserve-team appearances for Charlton. In the summer of 2008, Gibbs returned to MLS and joined the Rapids through the allocation process. He scored one goal in 29 appearances in Colorado, playing as both a central defender and left back. Overall, Gibbs has 50 career MLS appearances and has earned 19 caps with the U.S. National Team.

Larentowicz, 26, just completed his fifth MLS season, all with the Revolution which drafted him in the fourth round of the 2005 Supplemental Draft out of Brown. He made 111 career appearances, including 103 starts, while scoring nine goals from his defensive midfield position. He has also made 10 postseason appearances with New England.

Thompson, 26, just completed his third MLS season - all with New England - after the team drafted him fifth overall in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft out of Wake Forest. He made 71 career regular-season appearances with 36 starts, mostly on the right wing, and had eight postseason appearances. Thompson scored two goals in MLS action.

The Revolution is scheduled to open the 2010 season on the road against the LA Galaxy on Saturday, March 27 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The Revs are set to open their 2010 home slate on Saturday, April 10, when they host Toronto FC. For more information about the Revolution, visit revolutionsoccer.net or get live updates through Twitter (@NERevolution).

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