Rochester Rhinos News Release - www.rhinossoccer.com
Monday, January 9, 2012
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Rochester Rhinos have exercised their contractual option on Quavas Kirk for the 2012 USL PRO season pending league and United States Soccer Federation approval. Kirk played in 20 matches and made 15 starts mainly at outside back this past season. He logged 1,061 minutes in USL PRO last season and helped anchor the best home defense and third best defense overall. Kirk recorded two assists.
"Quavas has been and remains one of the great young talents in American soccer. His previous experience in MLS and his athletic ability are unmatched." Rhinos coach Jesse Myers said. "This season we are going to ask Quavas to continue to develop his game, and to play a role in helping us try to win a championship."
Kirk put together one of the most impressive resumes of any player in USL before joining the Rhinos this past season. Kirk entered residency with the United States U17 Men’s National Team in 2003 and played with the team until 2005. He made 53 appearances with the U17s and scored 22 goals with the team in all competitions. He played in the 2005 U17FIFA World Cup in Peru.
After the World Cup he signed with Major League Soccer under the Project 40 program at age 16, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the third round of the MLS Superdraft. He made 33 appearances for the Galaxy and counted Rhinos captain Troy Roberts, USMNT star Landon Donovan, and former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar David Beckham among his teammates. In 2008 D.C. United traded Greg Vanney to the Galaxy for Kirk. Kirk went on to make 10 appearances for United and scored his only MLS goal with the team.
Kirk will join fellow returnees Roberts and Tyler Bellamy as well as newcomers Michael Zaher and Jack Traynor in the back for the Rhinos in 2012.
About the Rochester Rhinos
The Rochester Rhinos are one of the most successful franchises in the United States outside of Major League Soccer. The Rhinos have reached five USL finals and won championships in 1998, 2000, and 2001. Rochester has also reached two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup finals. The Rhinos won the U.S. Open Cup in 1999, and they remain the only team outside of MLS to win the U.S. Open Cup.