The MetroStars today acquired two-time U.S. World Cup defender Eddie Pope, high-scoring striker Jaime Moreno and veteran midfielder Richie Williams from D.C. United in exchange for a package including defender Mike Petke, the MetroStars' second 2003 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick (number five overall) and an allocation.

"Mike has served this club well and has been a terrific MetroStar. We wish him all the best," said Team President/General Manager Nick Sakiewicz. "This trade allows us to bring three experienced and accomplished players to add to our team that will give us a very solid core going forward."

The trade, the first since Bob Bradley took over as the MetroStars' head coach in late October, brings three players to the MetroStars who have won a combined nine MLS Cup titles, and reunites the trio with Bradley, who served as the assistant coach for United's first two MLS Cup titles in 1996 and 1997.

"We are very excited to bring Jaime Moreno, Eddie Pope and Richie Williams to the MetroStars," said Bradley. "I have had excellent experiences with all these players, and I believe that they give us an excellent starting point for success in the upcoming 2003 season."

Moreno, the fifth-leading scorer (69 goals, 52 assists, 190 total points) in MLS history, is United's all-time scoring leader. A two-time selection to the MLS Pepsi Best 11, Moreno ranks fourth all-time in MLS goals scored and has notched 15 game-winning goals over his seven-year career in the league.

The 28-year-old native of Santa Cruz, Bolivia was the youngest member (20) of the Bolivian national team that competed in the 1994 World Cup, and that same year became the first (and still only) Bolivianto to play in the English Premier League when he debuted with Middlesbrough.

Pope, who anchored the backline of the 2002 U.S. team that advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in our nation's history, has played in the last two World Cups for the United States. He is also a two-time MLS Best 11 selection (1997, 1998), as well as the 1998 Honda Player of the Year and the MLS Defender of the Year in 1997.

Pope, who turns 29 on Christmas Eve, secured the first MLS Cup title in league history for D.C. United in 1996 when he headed home the golden-goal winner in the 96th minute to give United a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Williams returns for his second stint with the MetroStars, having started 21 games for the team in defensive midfield during the 2001 season before being dealt back to D.C. United last February in exchange for Brian Kamler and other considerations.

Williams, who grew up in Middletown, NJ, was an alternate for the 2002 U.S. World Cup team, and was called up to the team for key games against Honduras and Costa Rica during the United States' qualifying run. Williams has earned 17 caps with the national team during his career, also earning two selections (in 1997 and 1999) to the MLS All-Star Game.

Petke established himself as the MetroStars' all-time leader in both games (134) and minutes played (11,520) after joining the team out of Southern Connecticut State University in 1998. The Long Island product made two straight MLS All-Star Game starts in 2001 and 2002, and came forward to notch five goals and four assists (14 points) over his five-year MetroStars career.

"It's a very sad day for me, one I hoped would never come but realistically knew would one day," said Petke. "I'll miss the fans and all the support they've given me over the years, and I'll never forget my time with the MetroStars."