Red Bull New York have announced that defender Eric Brunner, midfielder/defender Luke Sassano, midfielders David Roth and Michael Palacio and forwards Chris Megaloudis and Ricky Schramm have signed contracts with Major League Soccer to play for the Red Bulls. All six players will be available for selection for the Red Bulls' season and home opener against the Columbus Crew tomorrow evening at 7:30 PM ET at Giants Stadium (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, Spanish Radio: WADO 1280).
Brunner was the Red Bulls' second round selection (16th overall) out of Ohio State University. The 6-4, 170-pound defender from Dublin, OH, has earned a number of accolades during his college career. The 2008 adidas/MLS Combine MVP in January, Brunner was a NSCAA All-American and All-Region First Team selection in 2007 after scoring six goals and starting in all 26 games he played.
Sassano, selected in the third round (33rd overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, was the team captain for UC-Berkeley in 2007, an All Pac-10 Honorable Mention in 2005 and a Pac-10 All-Academic Honorable Mention in 2007. Featuring in a total of 64 games (56 starts), the Orinda, CA native tallied a total of four goals and 19 assists during his four-year career for the Golden Bears.
Hailing from St. Louis, Mo., Roth, chosen in the fourth round (44th overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft from Northwestern University, was a NSCAA All-American Second Team selection (2007) and a two-time NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region First Team pick (2006-07). The 5-8, 138 pound midfielder and two-time All-Big Ten First Team member (2006-07) has scored 19 goals and 32 assists in 83 games played over his four years at Northwestern.
Palacio was selected in the second round (21st overall) in the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft. He was a three-time selection on the America East First Team and was named to the All-Northeast region second team in his junior season. In 2007, the Long Beach, NY, product scored four goals and six assists for the Seawolves as they earned a 9-7-3 record. He is Stony Brook's all-time leader in assists.
Megaloudis joined the Red Bulls on trial in January 2008. The 24-year-old from Queens, NY and Puerto Rican International attending Stony Brook University from 2004-05 before joining the Long Island Rough Riders of the Premier Development League in 2006. Megaloudis has also enjoyed a stint with the Westchester Flames. He scored his first international goal for Puerto Rico on Jan. 26, 2008 against Trinidad and Tobago.
Schramm, 22, was also invited to Red Bulls camp in January. The former Georgetown University standout started in two games for the Red Bulls reserves last year, scoring two goals. Prior to that, Schramm enjoyed a stint with the Richmond Kickers of the United Soccer Leagues Second Division in 2007. He was originally drafted by D.C. United in the third round (37th overall) of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft before being waived.
#23 Eric Brunner
Height: 6-4
Weight: 170
DOB: Feb. 12, 1986 in Dublin, OH
Previous Club/College: Ohio State University
Hometown: Dublin, OH
#32 Luke Sassano
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
DOB: Oct. 14, 1985 in Orinda, CA
Previous Club/College: University of California-Berkeley
Hometown: Orinda, CA
#5 David Roth
Height: 5-8
Weight: 138
DOB: Dec. 4, 1985 in St. Louis, MO
Previous Club/College: Northwestern University
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
#21 Michael Palacio
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175
DOB: Aug. 29, 1986 in Long Beach, NY
Previous Club/College: Stony Brook University
Hometown: Long Beach, NY
#26 Chris Megaloudis
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
DOB: May 14, 1984 in New York, NY
Previous Club/College: Long Island Rough Riders (PDL)
Hometown: Queens, NY
#14 Ricky Schramm
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
DOB: Oct. 26, 1985 in Elmhurst, NY
Previous Club/College: D.C. United
Hometown: Eastchester, NY
