Red Bull II will open its USL Championship season against the Swope Park Rangers at Montclair State Saturday. (Photo courtesy of the Red Bulls)
HARRISON, N.J. – Red Bull II has completed the signings of Roy Boateng, Sean McSherry, Kyle Zajec, Sebastian Elney and Preston Kilwien to USL Championship contracts, the club announced Friday.
NYRB II opens its season against Swope Park Rangers at MSU Soccer Park on the campus of Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J. Saturday at 1 p.m.
Boateng, 23, was a four-year letterman at UC Davis, starting 81 matches. He was a two-time Big West defensive player of the year. The Rohnert Park, Calif. native was named an All-Far West Region selection by United Soccer Coaches. Boateng was selected 16th overall by the Red Bulls in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.
McSherry, 21, was a four-year letterman at Princeton University, where he played in 47 matches and scored seven goals. The defender was named first team All-Ivy League his senior season and was named second team all league in 2016. The Freehold, N.J. native was a team captain for the Tigers. He was selected by the Red Bulls with the No. 78 pick in the SuperDraft.
Zajec and Elney joined NYRB II after playing in Major League Soccer developmental academies.
The 21-year-old Zajec played in 62 matches for Georgetown University, and tallied five goals and nine assists in his four-year career. The midfielder is a four-time Big East All-Academic selection. He also was a five-year starter for the Red Bulls Academy. In 2014 his club had the best record in the nation. The Westport, Conn. native made his professional debut for NYRB II during the club’s inaugural season in 2015 against the Rochester Rhinos. Zajec has been a regular over the last three seasons for the Red Bulls Under-23 team.
Elney, 22, was a member of the Philadelphia Union Academy for one season and graduated from the YSC Academy. The forward scored 17 goals at the University of Maryland and won the NCAA Division I in his last season. The Boca Raton, Fla. native was a second team All- Big Ten selection his freshman season and was named to the Big Ten All- Tournament Team in 2017 as a junior. Elney has suited up for the U.S. U-17 and U-18 national teams while competing in CONCACAF qualifying and other various tournaments.
Kilwien, 22, was a four-year letterman at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he was named Atlantic Sun defensive player of the year during his senior season. He appeared in 60 matches in his career and recorded four goals and five assists. He was a member of the Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team in 2015 and earned All-Atlantic Sun second team honors in 2017.
