Gerson Echeverry
Encyclopedia
Gerson Echevvery is a retired Colombian football (soccer)
forward
who played professionally in Major League Soccer
, USISL and the National Professional Soccer League.
. In 1990, he graduated from John F. Kennedy High School
where he had scored 55 goals during his high school soccer career. He played college soccer at Seton Hall University
from 1990 to 1993. He was a 1991 Third Team All American.
selected Echeverry in the fourth round of the National Professional Soccer League draft. He did not sign with the team. In 1995, he played for the Richmond Kickers
of the USISL. He then played for Cortuluá
in Colombia. On February 2, 1997, D.C. United
selected Echevvery in second round (fourteenth overall) of the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
. United waived him on March 28, 1997 during the pre-season. On April 3, 1997, the MetroStars
claimed Echeverry off waivers. He played one game with the MetroStars as well as a handful on loan to the South Jersey Barons. The MetroStars released him on June 4, 1997. Less than two weeks later, he signed with the Richmond Kickers
. In 1998, he began the season with the Hershey Wildcats
but was released in June. In August, he signed with the Central Jersey Riptide
for the remainder of the season. In 1998, he signed with the Harrisburg Heat
of the National Professional Soccer League where he played two seasons.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who played professionally in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, USISL and the National Professional Soccer League.
Youth
Although born in Colombia, Echeverry grew up in Paterson, New JerseyPaterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
. In 1990, he graduated from John F. Kennedy High School
John F. Kennedy High School (Paterson, New Jersey)
John F. Kennedy High School is a four-year public high school in Paterson, New Jersey, United States, that serves the western section of Paterson. Kennedy High School, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Paterson Public Schools...
where he had scored 55 goals during his high school soccer career. He played college soccer at Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
from 1990 to 1993. He was a 1991 Third Team All American.
Professional
In December 1993, the Buffalo BlizzardBuffalo Blizzard
The Buffalo Blizzard was an indoor soccer team based in Buffalo, New York. The team was a member of the now defunct NPSL from 1992 to 2001. From 1992-1996, the team played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, and they moved to HSBC Arena in 1996 where they played until 2001.The team was originally...
selected Echeverry in the fourth round of the National Professional Soccer League draft. He did not sign with the team. In 1995, he played for the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
of the USISL. He then played for Cortuluá
Cortuluá
Corporación Club Deportivo Tuluá, is a Colombian football club based in the city of Tuluá. The club was founded October 16, 1967 and plays its home games at the Doce de Octubre stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 16,000 seats.-History:...
in Colombia. On February 2, 1997, D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
selected Echevvery in second round (fourteenth overall) of the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 1997 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 2, 1997.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-External links:*...
. United waived him on March 28, 1997 during the pre-season. On April 3, 1997, the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
claimed Echeverry off waivers. He played one game with the MetroStars as well as a handful on loan to the South Jersey Barons. The MetroStars released him on June 4, 1997. Less than two weeks later, he signed with the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. In 1998, he began the season with the Hershey Wildcats
Hershey Wildcats
Hershey Wildcats were a professional soccer team, based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA, that played in the USL A-League between 1997 and 2001. The team was owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company...
but was released in June. In August, he signed with the Central Jersey Riptide
Central Jersey Riptide
Central Jersey Riptide were an American soccer team that played in Clark, New Jersey.They joined the USISL Pro League in 1996, but were relegated to the USL PDL in 1999. They became a provisional team the next season and then folded after the end of the season.-Year-by-year:...
for the remainder of the season. In 1998, he signed with the Harrisburg Heat
Harrisburg Heat
The Harrisburg Heat was a professional indoor soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team was part of the National Professional Soccer League, which later became the Major Indoor Soccer League, and has been defunct since 2003. The Harrisburg Heat was first formed during the 1991-92...
of the National Professional Soccer League where he played two seasons.