Rochester Rhinos News Release - www.rhinossoccer.com
Monday, October 15, 2007
ROCHESTER, NY -- The Rochester Raging Rhinos announced today that the team has re-signed veteran defender/midfielder Nate Craft to a two-year deal and midfielder Kevin Burns to a one-year deal. Both signings are pending approval from both the United Soccer Leagues and U.S. Soccer.
"I'm extremely happy that Nate and Kevin have agreed to terms for next season," said Rhinos Head Coach Laurie Calloway. "Nate is an important part of our defensive balance on the left side. Being without him for long periods this year was one of the reasons for our instability defensively."
Despite a knee injury that sidelined him for a good deal of the season, Craft played 636 minutes in 12 appearances with the Rhinos in 2007. During his first season with the team in 2006, Craft racked up 1,498 minutes in 19 appearances and earned USL First Division Team of the Week honors for Week 17. During the winter of 2006-07, Craft played for the Detroit Ignition of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He helped lead the team to the regular season title and the league final, and won MISL All-Rookie Team honors in the process. The Royal Oak, Mich., native has joined the Ignition again for 2007-08.
A product of the University of Connecticut, Burns finished the 2007 regular season with 1,149 minutes in 17 appearances for Rochester en route to team Rookie of the Year honors. Originally from Greenfield, Ind., Burns traversed the U.S. Northeast to attend the University of Connecticut from 2003-07. There, he was coached by one of the NCAA's all-time winningest men's soccer coaches, Ray Reid (18 yrs., 292-73-32 record). Reid also coached Rhinos midfielder John Ball at Southern Connecticut College from 1993-96. Burns was drafted in the fourth round (50th overall) by the Columbus Crew in the 2007 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft.
"Kevin had an extremely good season as a rookie and he added new dimensions to our midfield with his passing abilities with both feet," said Calloway.
