SECAUCUS, N.J. - The MetroStars announced today that they have signed defender Chris Leitch and forward John Wolyniec to new contracts. Per Major League Soccer policy, terms of the deals are not disclosed.
"Chris (Leitch) and John (Wolyniec) have proven over the past two years that they are solid contributors to our club," said MetroStars President and General Manager Nick Sakiewicz. "These two guys have worked hard for us over the past few years, and it is exciting that we get to reward them with new deals."
Leitch, 25, joined the MetroStars prior to the 2003 season and has had a big impact on the club over the past two seasons. Despite missing nine games due to a right ankle injury in his first year with the club, Leitch played in 15 games, starting in 10, for a total of 993 minutes of play during 2003. In 2004, Leitch truly emerged as he registered 2610 minutes on the season and garnered two assists. His accomplishments did not go unnoticed, and he was named the MetroStars 2004 Iron Man.
At the end of the 2004 season Leitch suffered from a sports hernia, and was forced to undergo surgery in February of 2005. Since then he has fully recovered and is doing well in the team's spring training sessions.
After bouncing between the A-League and MLS during the first four years of his professional career, Wolyniec found a home with the MetroStars in 2003. During his first year back with the MetroStars (he was originally drafted by the "Red and Black" with the seventh overall pick in the 1999 MLS SuperDraft) he appeared in 25 games, and tallied a total of 12 points coming from five goals and two assists. His success continued in 2004 when he finished the season with 10 goals and three assists. His mark of 10 goals equaled Amado Guevara's total, and the pair shared the MetroStars 2004 goal scoring title.
