Joe Fala scored 27 goals as a junior for Ramapo College. (Photo courtesy of the Red Bulls)

HARRISON, N.J. – Red Bulls II have signed defender Joe Fala to a USL Championship contract, the club announced Thursday.

Fala, 22, was a four-year letterman at Ramapo College of New Jersey, where he played in 75 matches, including 63 starts. He was twice named an All-American, earning third-team honors as a junior in 2018 and first-team honors as a senior in 2019.

“Joe is a guy that we saw in our combine and he sparked our interest,” head coach John Wolyniec said. “He has done nothing but exceed expectations since then. We are developing him as a center back, but his work rate and athleticism make him interesting at multiple positions.”

The Cape May Court House, N.J. native holds the Ramapo College season record for goals scored with 27, which he did as a junior. He sits third in school history with his 47 career goals scored. He also holds the school record for most career game winners (19).

Fala participated in NYRB II preseason camp and traveled with the team to their trip in Richmond, Va. He participated and started in all four exhibition matches.

Red Bulls II open up the season against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at MSU Soccer Park on the campus of Montclair State University on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.