Red Bull New York announced today that it has signed defender and Red Bulls Academy product, Connor Lade. Lade, a Convent Station, NJ native who most recently played four seasons at St. John's University, is the fifth Red Bulls Academy product to sign with the first team via the Home Grown Player Rule.

"Signing players from our academy has been one of our ongoing priorities. We believe that Connor can compete on the professional level after having four strong years in college soccer," said New York General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Soler. "We are thrilled to bring him into our squad and think that he has a bright future ahead of him."

"Playing for the Red Bulls Senior Team and in Major League Soccer is a dream that I have had since I was young. I want to thank my family and friends, St. John's and the Red Bulls for their support," Lade said. "I have worked hard to try and reach this point and I am excited to compete for my spot starting in January at our preseason camp."

In his senior year at St. John's, the 22-year-old started in each of the Red Storm's 18 games, playing every minute of every game for the second straight season and backstopping it to a BIG EAST Tournament Championship -- a competition in which he was name the Most Outstanding Defensive Player. Lade earned Second Team All-BIG EAST honors in 2011 after making the Third Team as a junior and helped the defense record a scoreless streak of 647 minutes and four seconds -- the third-longest in school history. He made 60 consecutive starts and amassed 81 appearances during his four years.

Lade attended Morristown High School and was a three-time First Team All-Conference, All-State and All-County selection. He became a member of the Red Bulls Academy in Dec. 2007 and was part of the Under-18 U.S. Development Academy squad and the 2009 Super-Y League championship-winning Under-20 team with current Red Bull Matt Kassel. Lade joins Kassel, Juan Agudelo, Sacir Hot and Giorgi Chirgadze as former Academy players who have graduated to the Red Bulls First Team.