The New York Red Bulls' Homegrown pipeline isn't just flowing – it's gushing.
The Red Bulls announced the signing of three more academy products – Chris Thorsheim, Mael Corboz (pictured above) and Scott Thomsen – as Homegrown Players on Wednesday, running their 2015-16 offseason tab to six thus far and pushing the overall number of HGPs on their current roster to a whopping 11 players, the most in MLS by a wide margin. (Vancouver and Dallas are currently tied for second in this department, with each boasting six Homegrown Players.)
The trio join the Red Bulls after successful collegiate careers: Thorsheim was a standout player in the Patriot League at Bucknell; Corboz spent two seasons at Rutgers before transferring to Maryland, where he captained the Terps as a senior in 2015; and Thomsen helped Virginia to a national championship during his four years at Virginia.
“We are very excited to be able to add Mael, Scott and Chris,” said Red Bulls sporting director Ali Curtis, in a statement. “Today is a special moment for these young men as well as for the club. Each player's development is a testament to their hard work, commitment of their families, the coaching they have received during their careers and the quality of our youth development system.”
Combined with the Monday signings of Brandon Allen, Derrick Etienne, as well as Alex Muyl on Tuesday, Wednesday's signings run New York's total to 16 Homegrown Players in franchise history.
Thorsheim, who hails from Manalapan, New Jersey, was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List in the leadup to the 2015 season. He started all 18 matches for Bucknell this year, finishing fourth in the Patriot League in points. Thorsheim notched 20 goals and 18 assists in 80 career games for the Bison and was a three-time All-Patriot League honoree. He scored four goals for the unbeaten 2014 Red Bulls U-23 team that won the NPSL national championship, and returned to the U-23 squad again last summer, scoring another four in 11 appearances in the PDL.
- Find more RBNY news at NewYorkRedBulls.com
Corboz, a Green Brook, New Jersey native, had two standout seasons at Maryland after transferring from Rutgers. As a junior in 2014, he earned honors as the Big Ten Tournament’s offensive MVP, and led the league with 10 goals in 22 games. This year he led the league with 12 assists and was named to the First Team All-Big Ten after both seasons. Corboz also played for the Red Bulls’ U-23 team the past two years and recorded five goals and an assist in nine appearances in 2015.
Thomsen, from Brick, New Jersey, played 66 career matches for Virginia, including 56 starts as both a midfielder and defender. Injuries limited him to five games his senior season, but he helped the Cavaliers win the NCAA Championship in 2014 and finished his college career with three goals and 18 assists, leading his team in helpers during his freshman and junior years. Like his fellow signees, Thomsen spent summers with the Red Bulls U-23s, winning the NPSL title in 2014 and scoring three goals and three assists in 14 appearances in 2015.
