Ray Burse
Encyclopedia
Ray Burse, Jr. is an American
soccer player who currently plays for the Puerto Rico Islanders
in the North American Soccer League.
in Louisville, Kentucky
, and played college soccer
at The Ohio State University. His 162 career saves and 1.11 goals-against average has left him as one of OSU's best goalkeepers to date. In high school Burse was named an All-American playing as a forward
.
In 2005 Burse also played for Chicago Fire Premier
in the USL Premier Development League
, finishing the year with an impressive 0.68 goals-against average.
and played on the F.C. Dallas reserve squad. During the 2006 season for FC Dallas, Burse made no first team starts, but was regular on the reserve squad. Burse made his professional debut in Dallas' 1-1 draw with C.D. Guadalajara
in the opening match of the SuperLiga
on July 24, 2007. He made his first MLS league appearance in a 1-0 win against Colorado Rapids
on August 4, 2007. In 2008 he was loaned out to the Portland Timbers
of the USL First Division
. He returned to Dallas on June 4, 2008 after starting in ten games and recording six clean sheets. He made his first of two starts on June 1, 2008 in a 2-1 loss against the Colorado Rapids
. Ray served as the backup goalie in 20 regular season games for FC Dallas
during the 2008 MLS regular season.
Burse signed a short-term contract with the Columbus Crew on February 19, 2011 due to injuries to the team's top two goalkeepers He made two starts for the Black & Gold in both legs of the Crew's 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League
quarterfinal series against Real Salt Lake
. In game one on February 22, 2011 in Columbus Crew Stadium
, Burse went on to post a shutout in the 0-0 stalemate. He was named the player of the match via text message voting by fans. On March 15, 2011 he was released by the Crew. On March 29, 2011 it was announced that the Puerto Rico Islanders
of the North American Soccer League
had signed Burse for the 2011 season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player who currently plays for the Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the North American Soccer League.
College and Amateur
Burse attended St. Xavier High SchoolSt. Xavier High School, Louisville, Kentucky
St. Xavier High School is an all-male, Xaverian Brothers-sponsored school in Louisville, Kentucky. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville. St. Xavier, also known as St. X, was founded in 1864 by Br. Paul Van Gerwen, C.F.X. The school currently resides on Poplar Level Road...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, and played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at The Ohio State University. His 162 career saves and 1.11 goals-against average has left him as one of OSU's best goalkeepers to date. In high school Burse was named an All-American playing as a 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...
.
In 2005 Burse also played for Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier is an American soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 2001, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, finishing the year with an impressive 0.68 goals-against average.
Professional
Burse was drafted in the third round of the 2006 MLS Superdraft2006 MLS SuperDraft
The 2006 MLS SuperDraft, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 20, 2006, was the seventh incarnation of the annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The first selection originally belonged to C.D. Chivas USA, but they traded it to the MetroStars for the fifth overall selection and Jason...
and played on the F.C. Dallas reserve squad. During the 2006 season for FC Dallas, Burse made no first team starts, but was regular on the reserve squad. Burse made his professional debut in Dallas' 1-1 draw with C.D. Guadalajara
C.D. Guadalajara
Club Deportivo Guadalajara , is a Mexican professional football club based in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Guadalajara plays in the Primera División de México and is the most successful club in Mexican football, having won 11 First Division titles, 7 Campeón de Campeones and 2 Copa México...
in the opening match of the SuperLiga
2007 North American SuperLiga
The 2007 SuperLiga, the inaugural edition of the SuperLiga competition, was held from July 24 to August 29, 2007. The eight clubs participating in the 2007 tournament were chosen by invitation....
on July 24, 2007. He made his first MLS league appearance in a 1-0 win against Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado 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...
on August 4, 2007. In 2008 he was loaned out to the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. He returned to Dallas on June 4, 2008 after starting in ten games and recording six clean sheets. He made his first of two starts on June 1, 2008 in a 2-1 loss against the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado 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...
. Ray served as the backup goalie in 20 regular season games for FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
during the 2008 MLS regular season.
Burse signed a short-term contract with the Columbus Crew on February 19, 2011 due to injuries to the team's top two goalkeepers He made two starts for the Black & Gold in both legs of the Crew's 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
quarterfinal series against Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
. In game one on February 22, 2011 in Columbus Crew Stadium
Columbus Crew Stadium
Columbus Crew Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in Columbus, Ohio and the home stadium of Major League Soccer club, Columbus Crew. Built in 1999, Crew Stadium was the first soccer-specific stadium built for a professional soccer team in the second pro era of American soccer...
, Burse went on to post a shutout in the 0-0 stalemate. He was named the player of the match via text message voting by fans. On March 15, 2011 he was released by the Crew. On March 29, 2011 it was announced that the Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League (2010)
The North American Soccer League is a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico which began league play on April 9, 2011. It has been provisionally sanctioned as the second tier of soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, behind Major League Soccer in the...
had signed Burse for the 2011 season.