The New York Red Bulls Under-23 team got their season off to a strong start with a 3-1 win over Brooklyn-based FA Euro on Friday night at Belson Stadium on the campus of St. John’s University.
Alex Tejera scored twice and Steven Echevarria added a third to round out the scoring. tMichael Lansing earned the start in goal for New York and made seven saves in the victory.
The Red Bulls U-23s made the switch to PDL after winning the NPSL last summer. The team is comprised mostly of Red Bulls Academy players who have gone on to play in college, along with several college players who are not affiliated with a club program. The U-23 platform gives players the opportunity to train in the Red Bulls system and compete against top local competition during the summer months before returning to their college teams in the fall.
The team is coached by Rob Elliot, who formerly was the Red Bulls’ U-15/16 Development Academy head coach who guided the group to a national title during the 2011-12 season. A number of players from that Academy team are on this year’s PDL squad, including goalkeeper Evan Louro, Echevarria, Brandon Tetro and Alex Muyl.
Nine players from the NPSL-winning side from last summer return to the squad for 2015.
The Red Bulls open the home portion of the schedule on Sunday with a match against D.C. United’s U-23s.
