Dynamo announced today the signing of 19-year-old goalkeeper Erich Marscheider. He's been training with the club during the preseason and cleared waivers, allowed the team to sign the young keeper. Marscheider is listed at 6'2", 185lbs. and was born in Austria to American parents.
From what I can find about him, he's a rated fairly well and adds to the impressive group of young goalkeepers the Dynamo already have signed or are part of the team's academy program. More importantly, goalkeeper coach Tim Hanley likes him and that's good enough for me.
Here's the official press release on the signing:
HOUSTON, TX (Wednesday, February 22, 2012) -- The Houston Dynamo have signed goalkeeper Erich Marscheider, it was announced today. Marscheider cleared the waiver process after Major League Soccer signed the promising goalkeeper to a contract. The Dynamo then put in a player request to sign Marscheider. Per team and league policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Marscheider, 19, has been in training with the Dynamo since the beginning of preseason. He previously played three-and-a-half years for the Colorado Rush Soccer Club. The Colorado Springs-native was awarded the Golden Gloves as the top goalkeeper in 2011 for the Colorado Rush program.
"He has a good attitude, he works hard and has good size," Dynamo goalkeepers coach Tim Hanley said. "Age is also a factor because there is a big upside to a kid who is only 19 years old. Erich is very polished technically, which shows that he has been coached before, and I do not have to do a whole lot to change how he plays. Mostly important, he has a good attitude, which is something I value highly in my goalkeepers."
Since joining training camp with the Dynamo, Marscheider has seen action in four games.