Tompkins Weekly

Kutler’s MLS dream will soon become reality



By Will LeBlond
Tompkins Weekly

 

A dream will soon become reality for Lansing native Ethan Kutler.

The 2013 Lansing High School graduate and a two-time All-State player has been chasing the dream in professional soccer ever since he got drafted by the New York Red Bulls in last year’s MLS Draft, and now he’s made it. After playing for the New York Red Bulls II in the United Soccer League, the defender was signed to an MLS contract on Tuesday, May 1.

“I guess I wouldn’t say I was too surprised, but it caught me off guard a little bit,” said Kutler on when he found out about the promotion. “People have been talking about it for a couple weeks. There had been some injuries to the first team lineup and with one of their outside backs leaving for the World Cup this summer, they were going to be thin at that position.”

For Kutler, who wrapped up his collegiate playing career at Colgate in the fall of 2016, the moment was the culmination of years of training and had long been a dream of his.

“I have to go back to club days and high school and middle school,” said Kutler on how long he’s been striving to get to the top levels of soccer. “It definitely became a little more realistic when I was at Colgate and when I got drafted, I was hoping to make the team right away, but that didn’t happen. You have to take the steps in American soccer.”

Because Kutler was in Canada when he found out the news and was unable to use his phone in the traditional sense, he facetimed his parents as soon as he could and also got in touch with close friends and family. Those people have seen him climb the ranks in American soccer from back in his youth days, but now they’ll see him at the top level in America, which is something he feels prepared for.

“The quality and intensity is a lot higher,” said Kutler. “It’s a pretty doable transition, especially with this club because our training is at a very high level. I’m just excited to hopefully make an impact soon.”

Kutler is used to making transitions in his soccer as of late. After he had a prolific scoring career at Colgate that included 81 points to finish as the second top-scorer in school history, he moved to defender for his pro career.

With some time on the back end under his belt, the powers that be thought he was ready to make the jump.

 

“This year, I came in fit to preseason and worked with the coaches and players to get better,” said Kutler. “After the first couple games of the year, the first team staff thought I was understanding the game a little bit more from that position, so that was good to hear.”

While Kutler will not immediately suit up for the Red Bulls in an MLS game, he will train with the top team as much as possible to get ready. His move to play in games for the team will most likely come in the summer during the upcoming World Cup, as a spot should open up for him then.

 

 

 

 

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