Jane Havsy

@dailyrecordspts

HARRISON - Connor Lade may have been joking when he referred to Red Bull New York as a team full of "Jersey guys." Or the diminutive defender from Morristown only was being honest.

Though the Major League Soccer team has a different state in its name, the Red Bulls are building around homegrown players, New Jersey talent who mainly came up in their academy system and wants nothing more than to prove themselves in front of family and friends.

A veteran at 27, Lade is one of them. He's working his way back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and hoped to be cleared to return to training by the time the season starts Saturday.

The Red Bulls roster has eight guys with Jersey ties, including captain Sacha Kljestan. Raised in Huntington Beach, California, the center midfielder helped Seton Hall reach the NCAA Tournament three times. Midfielder Sean Davis, who grew up in Holmdel and was part of the United States under-17 residency program, is part of the Red Bulls' six-player "leadership council," designated "the leader of the rookies" by Kljestan.

"I was in their shoes," Lade said. "For me, it doesn't feel like it was that long ago, but it actually is. When you've got guys in here who are 17, 18, 19 years old, it makes me feel like an old man now. I can relate to them, of course, going through that process. … Growing up in the area, you try to pride yourself on your grit, your tenaciousness. If you've ever been in a car in this area, you can see there's some attitude there. You try to use that to your advantage."

Davis, 24, is expected to step into the playmaking role previous held by now-departed captain Dax McCarty. Striker Brandon Allen, an Old Bridge native who played at St. Joseph-Metuchen, is the reigning United Soccer League Rookie of the Year. Midfielder Dan Metzger, another Holmdel product, made 28 USL appearances and was part of all six playoff games as Red Bulls II won the championship last fall.

Both teams often trained together at the Red Bulls' facility in Whippany.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity that's in front of me, not only me, but other midfielders on the team," Davis said, including Metzger in his list.

"All of us are really eager to prove ourselves. We're all extremely motivated. It all pushes us in the right direction. … I still have a long way to go before I can consider myself a veteran. But I feel really confident in my abilities and what I can bring to the team."

Though head coach Jesse Marsch and many of the players referred to the USL title as a big step, Red Bulls II players still have to "prove they're ready for that" transition up to MLS. Marsch is a proponent of "rotation," using as many players as possible to ensure "we have fresh legs on the field."

Adding in CONCACAF Champions League matches means even more competitions, and more opportunities. But the Red Bulls, a team with a nearly empty trophy case, might be concentrating more on overall victories rather than development.

The Red Bulls hosted a 1-1 draw with Vancouver in a CCL match Feb. 22. They played in Vancouver on Thursday and start the MLS season in Atlanta on Sunday.

Colorado goalkeeper Tim Howard, a North Brunswick native, is the Red Bulls' opponent in the March 11 home opener.

"There's a lot of games, and you can't expect everyone to play every minute," said Metzger, who signed a MLS deal on Jan. 23. "Hopefully when my time comes, I'll do the best I can and make an impression."

Added Allen, "My goal is to make the 18s (first-team roster) and really have an impact."

Davis made sure to point out that Kljestan wasn't truly a Jersey guy, and couldn't define what being part of local soccer means.

The United States women's soccer program has been powered by Jersey girls, and now the Red Bulls are hoping to capitalize as well. Allen joked that Justin Bilyeu, a defender from St. Louis, "wants to be from New Jersey," particularly a role on the "Jersey Shore" TV show.

Said Davis, "We do have a little bit of grit to our game. We're very honest players. We're willing to do the work on both sides of the ball. … At the end of the day, we're all team-first guys. We care about doing whatever is possible to make the team work."

Staff Writer Jane Havsy: 973-428-6682; jhavsy@gannettnj.com; www.dailyrecord.com/writerjane/

New Jersey players around Major League Soccer

♦ Juan Agudelo, New England striker, Barnegat– at Red Bulls May 27

♦ Brandon Allen, Red Bulls striker, Old Bridge/St. Joseph-Metuchen

♦ R.J. Allen, New York City striker, Old Bridge/St. Joseph-Metuchen/Monmouth – at Red Bulls June 24, Aug. 25

♦ Jozy Altidore, Toronto striker, Livingston – at Red Bulls May 19

♦ Michael Bradley, Toronto midfielder, Princeton – at Red Bulls May 19

♦ Sean Davis, Red Bulls midfielder, Holmdel

♦ Rafael Diaz, Red Bulls goalkeeper, Rockaway/Morris Hills

♦ Dilly Duka, Columbus midfielder, Montville/Rutgers – at Red Bulls April 22

♦ Joseph Greenspan, Minnesota defender, Westfield

♦ Tim Howard, Colorado goalkeeper, North Brunswick – at Red Bulls March 11

♦ Eric Klenofsky, D.C. United goalkeeper, Lincoln Park/DePaul/Monmouth – at Red Bulls April 11, Sept. 27

♦ Connor Lade, Red Bulls defender, Morristown

♦ Evan Louro, Red Bulls goalkeeper, South River/St. John Vianney

♦ John McCarthy, Philadelphia goalkeeper, Cinnaminson – at Red Bulls Sept. 17

♦ Bryan Meredith, Seattle goalkeeper, Scotch Plains/Monmouth

♦ Dan Metzger, Red Bulls midfielder, Holmdel

♦ Tyler Miller, Seattle goalkeeper, Woodbury/Bishop Eustace

♦ Adam Najem, Philadelphia midfielder, Clifton/Paramus Catholic – at Red Bulls Sept. 17

♦ Jake Nerwinski, Vancouver defender, Lawrenceville/Notre Dame – at Red Bulls Oct. 7

♦ Matt Turner, New England goalkeeper, Park Ridge/St. Joseph (Montvale) – at Red Bulls May 27