HARRISON, N.J. – The Red Bulls did not have to go very far to add to their roster in the final two rounds of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft Sunday.
They picked two players from their Under-23 team that performed in the Premier Development League last year.
They selected midfielder Jared Stroud and forward Jose Aguinaga in the fourth round.
“This is an exciting day for both Jared and Jose, and we are pleased to welcome them to the club,” sporting director Denis Hamlett said in a statement. “Giving young players opportunities is a key part of our philosophy. We are familiar with both of these players from our Under-23 team, and we look forward to getting them into our professional environment so they can continue to develop their game and take the first steps in their careers.”
A Chester, N.J. native, Stroud played at Colgate University. He was named to the first team All-Northeast region last year, leading the Raiders to their first appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament Sweet 16. As a senior, 5-10, 160-lb midfielder was named the Patriot League Tournament MVP, and was named to the All-Patriot League first team as he set a program season assist record (13) and added four goals. He finished his career with 10 goals and a school-record 30 assists. He is the older brother of Red Bulls Academy’s Peter Stroud, currently a member of the U-15 team.
Aguinaga, native of Madrid, Spain, finished his collegiate career with 18 goals and a school-record 32 assists in 76 appearances for Rider University. He led the team with nine assists in each of the last three seasons. The 5-9, 155-lb. Aguinaga, a three-time All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference selection, also was named to the MAAC All-Academic team in each of the last three years. He scored three goals last year and was named the United Soccer Coaches second team All-America.
Red Bulls midfielder Florian Valot is also a product of Rider.
New York did not have a third-round selection.
The team departs for Oldsmar, Fla. Monday to begin the first of two preseason camps. The Red Bulls open the season with a CONCACAF Champions League series at CD Olimpia (Honduras) Feb. 22.
