Steven Echevarria sent the perfect ball over three defenders and onto the lethal right foot of Bradley Wright-Phillips. The Red Bulls’ all-time leading scorer finished the pass with New York’s first goal of the preseason in Florida.
After the scrimmage against South Florida, Wright-Phillips played the role of mentor to Echevarria, a 21-year-old Slate Hill, N.Y., resident.
Wright-Phillips told him, “I see your quality. Don’t be afraid to play that pass more and don’t feel you shouldn’t be doing that often because I can see the ability you have.”
“For me to hear that from him, I was like, ‘Wow, that’s crazy,’” Echevarria said.
Echevarria, a six-year member of the Red Bulls Academy, is ready to take the next step in his soccer career. The club officially announced Echevarria’s signing to Red Bulls II, its reserve team that plays in the United Soccer League.
“It’s such a great feeling to coach a player starting at the U-14 level and see him turn pro with the club,” said Red Bulls II coach John Wolyniec in a team release. “Steven has the strengths that really fit what we do and is a model of hard work and dedication that will translate onto the pitch.”
Echevarria, a midfielder, didn’t apply for the Major League Soccer draft after a four-goal, three-assist senior season for Wake Forest University, one of the top NCAA Division I programs.
“I knew that Red Bull is where I wanted to be,” Echevarria said. “Immediately after I left Wake in December, I was in contact with the organization and was planning on making my next move here.”
Echevarria’s dreams of playing professional soccer started as early as 6 years old as a member of the Middletown Bears.
“My mom would have to drag me off the soccer field because I never wanted to leave,” Echevarria said.
Now, Echevarria is one call-up away from fulfilling his dream and becoming just the second local player to appear in an MLS game. Monroe-Woodbury graduate Ryan Cordeiro played seven matches with (Washington) D.C. United in 2008. Red Bulls II open their season at home against Toronto FC II on March 17 at Montclair (N.J.) State University.
“A lot of their academy players go through the Red Bull II team and then get promoted sometimes in six months,” Echevarria said. “It depends on what they need and they get pulled up to the first team.
”They (the Red Bulls) are number three in MLS as far as using their young academy players. That’s what makes me feel positive about everything.“