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Per a team release this morning, the New England Revolution have announced that they've loaned two players - goalkeeper Luis Soffner and midfielder Alec Sundly - to the Rochester Rhinos, the team's USL PRO affiliate.
Soffner and Sundly are two of the four players the Revolution will loan to Rochester for the 2014 season per the teams' affiliate agreement. Two additional players will be loaned to the Rhinos at a later date. Both players reported to Rochester this week and have begun training with the Rhinos. They will be available for selection once the team begins its 2014 season on April 5 in Orlando. The Revolution can re-call any of its loaned players at any time.
Soffner, 24, is in his second professional season after the Revolution drafted him in the second round of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft out of Indiana. He has yet to see any MLS regular-season action, but saw limited time in two preseason matches this year.
Sundly, 21, joined the team this season after the Revs drafted him in the second round of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft out of California. He has yet to make a first-team appearance, but did play in all seven of the team's preseason matches this year.
After losing goalkeeper Alex Horwath to Ljungskile SK in Sweden earlier this offseason, the Rhinos will be looking for some competition between the sticks in 2014. Soffner will join newcomer John MCCarthy in Rochester where the two will battle for a starting spot this season.
For Sundly, he'll look to impress head coach Bob Lilley and hope to earn a spot in central midfield. The rookie's work will be cut out for him with the Rhinos bringing back familiar faces Tyler Rosenlund and Lance Rozeboom for the new season.
Lilley will already be acquainted with the New England duo after spending time with the Revolution during their preseason stint in Bradenton, Florida. The Rhinos are still in the process of building (one may argue re-building) their roster for their 2014 campaign and certainly the additions of both Soffner and Sundly will strengthen Lilley's options.
The Revs' roster now stands at 25 players currently in Foxborough following this move and the decision towaive midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo earlier in the week. They are on the road again this weekend against the Philadelphia Union and will be looking to put their 4-0 loss to Houston well behind them. The two I-95 foes will square off at 4pm ET on Saturday.