FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution has loaned four players to the Rochester Rhinos, the team’s USL PRO affiliate, for the 2013 USL PRO season. Defender Bilal Duckett, forward Matt Horth, midfielder Gabe Latigue and defender Tyler Polak will join the Rhinos this week ahead of the team’s season opener on April 13 at VSI Tampa Bay FC. The Revolution has the option to recall any of the players at any time during the loan period.
“Bilal, Matt, Gabe and Tyler are young players who should benefit from consistent playing time,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said. “We have a very deep roster this year, and having these four players get time in Rochester will benefit their professional development, as well as our club’s depth.”
The Revolution and Rhinos announced their affiliation on Jan. 28, allowing the Revs to send players to Rochester to train and play with the USL team for extended periods of time. With the agreement in place, the Revolution will not field a reserve team in 2013, instead sending reserve players to Rochester in an effort to get those players consistent, meaningful playing time.
The Rochester Rhinos are coached by Jesse Myers, who spent several days in Tucson, Ariz., with the Revolution to observe the Revs’ roster and training sessions. The Rochester Rhinos were founded in 1996, and have appeared in eight USL PRO finals and have four championships, including the 1999 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and three A-League Championships (1998, 2000, 2001).
Duckett, 24, signed with the Revolution on Feb. 11, 2013, after extended trials with the club last fall and this spring. He has yet to appear in a Revs game this season, but made 16 appearances with USL PRO club Harrisburg City Islanders in 2012. He was originally drafted by Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the third round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft out of Notre Dame.
Horth, 23, signed with the Revolution on Jan. 25, 2013, after trials with the club last fall and in preseason. He has not appeared in a Revs game this season, but is coming off two successful seasons with the NASL’s Atlanta Silverbacks, where he scored 18 goals in 49 appearances in 2011 and 2012. Undrafted, Horth played collegiately at Gordon College.
Latigue, 22, signed with the Revolution on March 1, 2013, after the Revolution drafted him in the fourth round of the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft. He played four seasons at Elon University, scoring 15 goals and adding 17 assists in 82 games. He was an all-region honoree as a senior.
Polak, 20, was drafted by the Revolution in the second round of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft as a Generation adidas player. He played two seasons at Creighton, helping the Bluejays lead the country in shutout percentage and goals against average in his sophomore season. He has yet to make an MLS appearance this year after making his MLS debut in the Revs’ 2012 season opener – his only MLS appearance – at San Jose.
Further information about the Rhinos can be found at rhinossoccer.com or on Twitter (@RochesterRhinos) and Facebook (RochesterRhinos).
