CARSON, Calif. - Chivas USA announced today the signing of four players to Developmental Contracts for the upcoming 2008 season. Chivas USA's only pick in the 2008 SuperDraft, midfielder Keith Savage, as well as forward Justin Braun, midfielder Daniel Paladini, and goalkeeper Lance Parker, have all been training with the Red-and-White during preseason and are now officially members of the team. Chivas USA now has signed seven players to the Developmental roster, leaving three slots open for players to be signed. Per league and team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Keith Savage, 22, was drafted by Chivas USA with the 43rd overall pick, the Red-and-White's only selection, in the 2008 SuperDraft. A midfielder who can also play forward, the six-foot-two, 185-pound Savage was a standout in his four years at the University of West Florida. Savage earned a number of national accolades, including All-South Region Most Outstanding Player and Division II First Team All-American, both in 2006. The native of Gulf Breeze, Florida, scored 47 goals and had 25 assists in his four seasons at West Florida. Savage was also a three-time All-South Region first teamer, and spent the summers of 2006 and 2007 with the Central Florida Kraze of the Premier Development League, scoring 11 goals and adding 3 assists in the two seasons.
Forward Justin Braun joins the Red-and-White after being invited to preseason by Chivas USA Head Coach Preki after Braun participated in the George F. Donnelly Cup at The Home Depot Center in January. Braun was playing as a member of the Utah Select Team in the amateur tournament organized by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). Braun, born March 31, 1987, is a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, where he played for Olympique Montreux, a men's league team in the area, as well as at Salt Lake Community College. Braun had an accomplished career at Skyline High School in Salt Lake City, where he was named to the All-State first team in his junior and senior years, and to the second team his sophomore year, as well as being the leading scorer in the state during his last two years at the school.
Daniel Paladini, of Northridge, Calif., was initially selected by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2006 Supplemental Draft, and played in five reserve team games with the Galaxy in that season. The 23-year-old Paladini (born 11/11/1984) then moved on to the Premier Development League's San Fernando Valley Quakes, where he had 3 goals and 3 assists in 14 games with the team, which tied for the Southwest Division title in 2007. In college, Paladini scored seven goals and added four assists for Cal-State Northridge in 2005, as he earned the title of Big West Conference midfielder of the year. He was a first team All-Big West selection in 2004 and 2005, as well as second team pick in 2003, and was named Mission League MVP at St. Francis High School in 2001.
A native of Oklahoma City, Lance Parker comes to Chivas USA from Missouri State University. The goalkeeper, born August 19, 1985, played 35 games in his four years on the Missouri State team, posting a career goals against average of .96. He was twice named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference second team, and picked up a number of Academic All-Conference awards throughout his time at the school. In the summer of 2007, Parker was a member of the Colorado Rapids U-23 of the Premier Development League, where he played in eight games and notched a record of 4-2-2 (W-L-T) while in the net for the team.
TRANSACTION: Chivas USA signs midfielder Keith Savage, forward Justin Braun, midfielder Daniel Paladini, andgoalkeeper Lance Parker to Developmental Contracts.
KEITH SAVAGE
Nombre/Name: Keith Savage
Número/Number: 22
Posición/Position: Mediocampista/Midfielder
Fecha de nacimiento/Date of birth: 1985-08-09, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Residencia/Hometown: Gulf Breeze, Florida, USA
Nacionalidad/Citizenship: USA
Peso/Weight: 84 kg / 185 lbs
Estatura/Height: 1.88 m / 6'2"
Último equipo/Last team: University of West Florida
Adquisición/Acquired: Selected by Chivas USA in the fourth round of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft (43rd overall).
JUSTIN BRAUN
Nombre/Name: Justin Braun
Número/Number:
Posición/Position: Delantero/Forward
Fecha de nacimiento/Date of birth: 1987-03-31, Salt Lake City, UT
Residencia/Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Nacionalidad/Citizenship: USA
Peso/Weight: 88 kg / 195 lbs
Estatura/Height: 1.91 m / 6'3"
Último equipo/Last team:
Adquisición/Acquired: Firmado por Chivas USA como Jugador en Desarrollo, 3 Marzo 2008 / Signed by Chivas USA as a Developmental Player, March 3, 2008
DANIEL PALADINI
Nombre/Name: Daniel Paladini
Número/Number:
Posición/Position: Mediocampista/Midfielder
Fecha de nacimiento/Date of birth: 1984-11-11, Van Nuys, CA
Residencia/Hometown: Northridge, CA
Nacionalidad/Citizenship: USA
Peso/Weight: 75 kg / 165 lbs
Estatura/Height: 1.76 m / 5'9"
Último equipo/Last team: San Fernando Valley Quakes (PDL)
Adquisición/Acquired: Firmado por Chivas USA como Jugador en Desarrollo, 3 Marzo 2008 / Signed by Chivas USA as a Developmental Player, March 3, 2008
LANCE PARKER
Nombre/Name: Lance Parker
Número/Number:
Posición/Position: Portero/Goalkeeper
Fecha de nacimiento/Date of birth: 1985-08-19, Oklahoma City, OK
Residencia/Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK
Nacionalidad/Citizenship: USA
Peso/Weight: 88 kg / 195 lbs
Estatura/Height: 1.93 m / 6'4"
Último equipo/Last team: Missouri State University
Adquisición/Acquired: Firmado por Chivas USA como Jugador en Desarrollo, 3 Marzo 2008 / Signed by Chivas USA as a Developmental Player, March 3, 2008
Chivas USA kicks off its 2008 MLS season on March 30 at FC Dallas before playing its 2008 Home Opener against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, April 5 at The Home Depot Center. For tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
