HARRISON, N.J. (July 9, 2014) – New York Red Bulls defender Connor Lade has been selected to participate in the inaugural Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game, a new competition showcasing the league’s top homegrown talent. Lade is one of 20 homegrown players from 12 MLS teams that will face the Portland Timbers U-23s two days before the 2014 MLS All-Star Game.
Lade joined the Red Bulls Academy during his senior year at Morristown High School in 2007 and after a terrific career as a four-year starter at St. John’s University, signed with the first team as a Homegrown Player on December 5, 2011. The local product made his professional debut just five months later in a 2-2 draw with San Jose on April 14, 2012 and made his first league start the next week at D.C. United on April 22, 2012.
The Morristown, NJ, native finished fifth in voting for MLS Rookie of the Year during the 2012 season after recording 26 appearances, 22 starts, and three assists. Through 17 games in 2014, Lade has made four appearances.
Kick-off from Providence Park will take place on Monday, August 4 at 10 PM. The match will be streamed live on WatchESPN and MLSsoccer.com. Fans can secure free tickets to the game by clicking here. Tickets will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis and quantities are limited. All MLS clubs were asked to nominate eligible players for the game, and based on availability, the final 20 were selected in consultation with MLS Director of Player Programs Alfonso Mondelo, who will coach the Homegrown team.
2014 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Roster*
- Goalkeepers: Jon Kempin (Sporting Kansas City), Matt Lampson (Columbus Crew)
- Defenders: Connor Lade (New York Red Bulls), Ashtone Morgan (Toronto FC), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids), Karl W. Ouimette (Montreal Impact), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
- Midfielders: Steven Evans (Portland Timbers), Wandrille Lefevre (Montreal Impact), Chris Ritter (Chicago Fire), Harry Shipp (Chicago Fire), Russell Teibert (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew)
- Forwards: Caleb Calvert (Chivas USA), Bradford Jamieson IV (LA Galaxy), Sean Okoli (Seattle Sounders FC), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids), Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
