Rhinos back four is all q-ed up
rhinossoccer.comThe 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 twenty matches and made fifteen starts mainly at outside back last season. He logged 1,061 minutes in USL PRO last season and helped anchor the best home defence and third best defence 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.”
Quavas Kirk put together one of the most impressive resumes of any player in the USL before joining the Rochester Rhinos last season. Kirk entered residency with the Under-17United States Men’s National Team in 2003 and played with the team until 2005. He made fifty-three appearances with the U17’s and scored twenty-two 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 sixteen, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the third round of the MLS Superdraft. He made thirty-three 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 ten appearances for United and scored his only MLS goal with the team.
Kirk will be joining fellow returnees Troy Roberts and Tyler Bellamy as well as newcomers Michael Zaher and Jack Traynor in the back for the Rhinos in 2012.
