Carrieri Signs With Richmond

[François]

Carrieri Signs With Richmond
Kickers Re-Sign Ankiel and O’Toole
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RICHMOND, VA – (Friday, March 18, 2005) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the signing of former Major League Soccer (MLS) midfielder Chris Carrieri. Specific terms of the contract were not disclosed.


Drafted first overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes, Carrieri was traded early in the season to the Colorado Rapids (MLS) and went on to set a rookie scoring record with 14 points (5 goals, 4 assists) in only 14 games. In his second season with the Rapids (2002), Carrieri finished in a first-place tie for the leading goal-scorer with 11 goals and five assists for 27 points and led the team and finished third in the league with five game-winning goals. After entering the July 4, 2002 Chicago Fire match at the half, Carrieri recorded the second hat trick in Rapids history, the first ever in one half, earning MLS Player of the Week honors. The only player to appear in all 30 games in 2003, Carrieri won Pepsi Goal of the Week honors on two occasions and became the eighth leading scorer in Rapids history.

“We are excited about bringing another proven goal-scorer into our squad,” comments Richmond Kickers Head Coach Leigh Cowlishaw.

"Chris is a passionate player who feels he has a lot to prove," adds General Manager Paul Sterbenz, "We welcome him to our Kickers family."

After playing three seasons in MLS, Carrieri was waived by the Rapids, allowing the team to be in compliance with the MLS salary cap, just prior to the 2004 season when he was picked up by the Rochester Raging Rhinos (USL First Division). With the Rhinos, Carrieri logged 2,249 minutes and totaled eight goals and eight assists for 24 points. Named to the US roster for the second US Representative XI versus England National Game XI match on June 9, 2004, Carrieri finished 11th in the USL First Division in games played (27) and fourth with assists (8). The 5’8” forward was loaned to Major Indoor Soccer League’s (MISL) Chicago Storm at the end of the 2004 season and played 34 minutes with the Chicago Fire of MLS, after being called up as an injury replacement.

A University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill star, Carrieri was named the 2000 ACC Player of the Year where he led the conference in nearly every offensive category and was a NSCAA/adidas Division 1 All-America First team selection. The 1998 ACC Rookie of the Year finished his third and final year at UNC with back-to-back All-ACC First Team honors, named ACC Player of the Week three times and Soccer America Team of the Week four times, more than any other player in the nation.

The Stafford, VA native received his first call to a full US Men’s National Team camp in December 2003 and also has experience with the US Under-20 Men’s National Team.