Crystal Palace Baltimore Signs Two Goalkeepers

Official Press Release

TWO NEW GOALKEEPERS FOR CRYSTAL PALACE BALTIMORE
Harrison, Bush to Compete for Starting Spot, Rowland Leaves to Coach at U of MD

February 18th 2010 - Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore have added two goalkeepers to their 2010 squad while long-serving netminder Brian Rowland has decided to retire. New signings Chase Harrison and Evan Bush bring a combination of experience and potential to this key position.

Palace Baltimore Assistant Coach Todd Wawrousek remarked: "I saw Evan play with Cleveland and he’s a great young talent with unlimited potential. He can compete for the number one spot with Chase. Evan is highly regarded in the league and, given continued growth and refinement, we feel he can compete at high levels in the game in the United States."

Co-Head Coach Jim Cherneski added: "Evan's got exceptional athletic ability. He started goalkeeping relatively late in life but he has tremendous upside."

"As for Chase," Cherneski added, "we played against him last year when he was with Harrisburg and he put in some excellent performances. That was a big factor in us signing him. We're looking forward to him being a part of the club."

Chase Harrison, 25 years old, played his college soccer at Virginia Tech from 2002 to 2005, appearing in 79 matches and maintaining an impressive 1.12 Goals Against Average. While with the Hokies, the 6’ 3" netminder also played for the West Virginia Chaos of the Premier Development League.

In 2006, Harrison was taken by Real Salt Lake in the third round of the Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft. The native of Huntington, West Virginia, was loaned out to the Virginia Beach Mariners of the then USL First Division for most of the year, making two appearances before being waived by Salt Lake at the end of the season. In 2007 he joined the Rochester Rhinos, also of the USL First Division, making a total of 18 appearances. In July 2008, Harrison was traded to another USL-1 club, the Portland Timbers, where he played six games. He spent last season with the Harrisburg City Islanders of USL-2 notching 16 starts.

23-year old Evan Bush was a standout at the University of Akron, earning three all-Mid American Conference first team selections, the 2005 MAC Newcomer of the Year and 2005 Freshman All-American team selection. He holds MAS career records for wins (62), shutouts (48), and Goals Against Average (0.60). During his college career, the 6’ 2" native of Concord Township, Ohio also played with PDL clubs the Chicago Fire Premier, the Cleveland Internationals and the Cape Cod Crusaders. He was named to the PDL All-Central Conference team in 2006. Bush turned professional in 2009, signing with the Cleveland City Stars of USL-1 where he made seven appearances.

Bush and Harrison will vie for the starting spot left vacant by Palace Baltimore’s long-serving goalkeeper Brian Rowland, who has accepted a position as Assistant Coach with the highly-regarded University of Maryland men’s soccer program.

"Brian’s been an integral part of our team since the beginning," stated Palace Baltimore President and Co-Head Coach Pete Medd. "But he’s chosen to get into coaching and we wish him all the best. He’s very dedicated and he’s got a sharp soccer mind, so we think he’ll be a fantastic coach for Maryland."