AVE MARIA, Fla. -- Along with 2013 Fire draft picks Yazid Atouba, John Gallagher, James Belshaw and Caleb Konstanski, the club has a few trialists in camp for the first phase of preseason. Details below...
Goalkeepers
Ian Joyce (27) – Having began his career in the lower leagues of English football, Joyce (right) signed with the Colorado Rapids in 2010. The Kinnelon, N.J. product appeared in just one regular season game for the club before passing through the Re-Entry Draft in December.
Fire fans will know him as the goalkeeper that was blinded by a “guise of smoke” on Jalil Anibaba’s game winner in a 2011 U.S. Open Cup qualifying victory over the Rapids.
Alec Kann (22) – Kann was part of the Fire’s preseason roster in 2012 but ultimately was cut following the first phase of camp in Ave Maria, Fla. After spending that season with USL Pro’s Charleston Battery, the young ‘keeper will returns to Florida with the Fire in hopes of locking down the third goalkeeper shirt.
Defenders
Rich Balchan (24) – After two seasons in Columbus, Balchan was claimed off of waivers from the Crew this past offseason, meaning the team has his league rights but he isn’t currently signed.
The former Fire PDL product appeared in 19 matches at right back for Columbus during his rookie year but multiple sports hernia surgeries kept him from first team action last season.
Still, the Indiana University alum has been given a clean bill of health and will be expected to provide the top challenge to Jalil Anibaba at the right back spot.
Rauwshan McKenzie (26) – Another former Fire PDL product, McKenzie is a center back that has spent time with Kansas City (2008-09), Real Salt Lake (2010-11) and Chivas USA (2012). Having played sparingly over his first four seasons in the league, the local Hoffman Estates product appeared in a career high 20 matches for the Goats last season.
Eric Robertson (22) - Added to the training camp roster following Tuesday's Supplemental Draft, the 6-3 center back appeared in 62 games over four seasons for Brown University
Midfielders
Luke Boden (24) – A product of the Sheffield Wednesday system, Boden made spot appearances for the club’s first team from 2006-11 before going out on loan to a number of lower league English sides.
In 2011 he came stateside and has been a constant in the lineup for USL Pro’s Orlando City Lions, appearing in 40 matches over two seasons and helping the club to the league championship his first season.
Forwards
Colin Rolfe (22) – A native of Plymouth, Mich., Rolfe (right) was selected 18th overall by the Houston Dynamo at the 2012 MLS SuperDraft but never appeared for the side before being waived in December.
A 6-2 forward, Rolfe was a highly touted prospect out of Louisville University (where he teamed with Austin Berry) and was even named as a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy his senior season.
No, he’s not related to Chris.
Sam Archer (24) – The club’s Open Tryout winner, Archer was a standout at Rutgers University from 2008-11 and went undrafted in MLS last year before being one of the last players cut from Colorado Rapids preseason camp.
