Crystal Palace Baltimore signs three with local ties in playoff push

Crystal Palace Baltimore has signed three new players as they push for post-season play in their 2010 USSF D-2 Pro League Campaign.

Forward, Alan Sanchez, 22, was signed from the Real Maryland Monarchs after making 20 appearances with the club and scoring three goals in his first season as a full professional in 2010. The Miami, Florida native played all four years of his college ball at North Carolina State University where he garnered All-ACC Second Team honors in his Freshman and Junior years and First Team honors in his Senior year. 

Romanian-born Adrian Bumbut, 26, was another valuable pick up for the Palace Baltimore offense. The former Romanian U-17 National Team player was drafted out of Liberty University in the second round of the Supplemental Draft by the Chicago Fire in 2008. He signed with the Richmond Kickers of the USL 2 league in 2008 where he made 36 appearances and scored 5 goals for the Kickers. As an indoor soccer player with the Baltimore Blast, he was named to the NISL 2008-09 All-Rookie Team after playing eight games and scoring six goals.

Palace Baltimore also signed local boy, Mark Murphy, 26, as a back-up goalkeeper to the club’s Number One, Evan Bush.  Clinton-born Murphy played his high school soccer at DeMatha High School and went onto play at Mount St. Mary’s University where he was named to the All-NEC Second Team in his Senior year. After trials in Europe, he turned professional signing with the Richmond Kickers in 2007 where he made eight appearances.

“Alan, Adrian and Mark have proven that they can get it done at a professional level,” said Palace Baltimore President, Pete Medd. “Alan and Adrian will play significant minutes for us. Alan was with us in the preseason and Adrian has been training with us for months. Both are hungry to prove they are long-termers for us. Mark is a good, hardworking professional who will push Bush in training and for some game time.”

Palace Baltimore also announced the releases of left back Stephen Basso, Cuban striker Yaikel Perez and Brazilian midfielder Lucio Gonzaga from the squad.