Last year, they entered the annals of NYRB II, now midfielders Jared Stroud & Chris Lema, both New Jerseyites are on the first team.
Sporting Director Denis Hamlett informed "On behalf of everyone at the club I'd like to welcome Jared and Chris to the first team, Over the last several seasons we have established a strong pathway for talented players to move up and contribute at the MLS level. We are proud to have helped Jared and Chris take this next step in their career"
Stroud had 2 stellar seasons seasons with NYRBII, last culminating with his nod as an All-League player for his 15 goals and 9 assists, garnering USL Championship All-League FIrst team selection, his 92 chances created were good for 4th league wide. Out of Chester, he totalled 22 goals, 20 assists over 63 games overall of which he started 51, racking up 4,748 minutes. These numbers made him the first in team history to achive 20 goals and 20 assists in his career. After 4 years at Colgate, he also is now well engrained in the record books at NYRB II, tops with assits, 2nd in goals & games, 3rd in starts, and 4th with his # of minutes, and only the 3rd ever to gain first team All-League status.
Lema, out of Ridgefield is tops in starts for NYRB II with 56 and minutes with 5,008. 2019 was a banner year for him as he was 4th on the team with his 5 goals, 3rd in assists with 6 and #2 for minutes at 2,837. He has had time with the USNT and their U-15 & 17's while with the Red Bull Academy.
Quotes of and by the players:
SD Hamlett: Jared has earned this opportunity after two strong seasons playing in USL. He emerged as a leader on and off the field in 2019 and showed that he is ready to make the jump to the MLS roster. We were happy to bring an academy product back to the club when Chris signed with Red Bulls II and are proud to see him take this next step in his career. Chris had two great seasons in USL, an we're pleased to give him and opportunity at the MLS level.
HC Chris Armas: Jared is an attacker that has committed to our philosophy and has excelled each year. He has shown that he can be dangerous in the final third and also score goals consistently. As a staff we look forward to helping him continue his development at the MLS level. Chris is a talented player who continues to evolve his game. He showed his quality last year, leading the USL in chances created and having an impact on games with and without the ball. We love Chris' attitude and are looking forward to working with him on a regular basis. It's great for the organization to continue to find develop and give opportunities to talented young players.
Jared Stroud; I'm incredibly excited to sign an MLS contract with the team that I grew up supporting as a kid. I want to thank the Red Bulls II fans, John, Ibra, Vadim, Adam, Matt and Zach (NYRB II staff). I look forward to starting the season strong next year and I'm excited to begin my third preseason with the club in the coming months.
Chris Lema: It's an honor to be able to sign an MLS contract with my childhood club. This is where I want to be and where I want to succeed. I'm excited to get started and give back to the club."
This information was received about 4 hours ago, and training begins this month, yet Stroud states beginning the season next year and preseaason in coming months? Given these are quotes supplied by the team, should he have misspoken, he should have then rephrased. I wonder if he or both were signed last year and this information is just being disseminated at this time.
Further, yes, these are great offensive numbers from both, but they are at the USL level not MLS, to think these 2 coupled with White and Barlow may be able to cover the goals lost via BWP is foolhardy at this point in time, as would be utilizing four roster spots to do so. There may very well have been a big money savings, but at what cost, with these 4 rather than bring in a proven goal scorer at this level, but any game all might start (probably not) would have over 1/3 of the players being them and almost 25% of the lineup if all dress.