News
Sept 11, 2021.
Marcucci Signs Professional MLS contract with the New York Red Bulls.
Penn Fusion alum AJ Marcucci has signed a professional MLS contract with the New York Red Bulls. After getting drafted in January 2021, Marcucci has spent the last several months playing for Red Bulls 2 in the USL Championship. He now has the opportunity to test himself at the highest level of the professional game within the United States.
Marcucci played within the Penn Fusion player development system from the age of 7 through to 19, progressing from the Recreation League through to the highest level of our Academy as part of our Elite 1998 Boys Team. The Elite 1998 team captured 2 National League Titles, 3 Regional Titles, 6 State Cups, and were National Semi-Finalists on two occasions under the guidance of Mark Thomas and Jamie Scott. Marcucci is one of four professional players to progress from the Elite 1998 Boys team (Marcucci, McFadden, Freese, Schlentz).
Following his time at Penn Fusion, AJ played collegiately at Connecticut College (NCAA D3). As a Camel, Marcucci started in 54 of the team’s 55 matches between 2017 and 2019 and helped the team post a combined 35-10-9 ledger in that span. He finished his career with a school-record 25 career shutouts to go along with an .887 save percentage and an 0.50 goals against average.
Among his many accolades, Marcucci earned a place on the NCAA All-America First Team as the nation’s top Division III goalkeeper twice by both the United Soccer Coaches and D3soccer.com in 2018 and 2019. He was also named the 2017 NESCAC Rookie of the Year and the 2018 NESCAC Player of the Year.
Throughout his collegiate career Marcucci also played for our elite men’s team, the West Chester Predators at the NPSL & USL levels.
Photo Credit: New York Red Bulls
Photo Credit: New York Red Bulls
“I am so thankful for the opportunity a club like Penn Fusion provided for me. The coaching and players were top class because they pushed us every training session and game. I never really thought I would get to this point in my life. Looking back, if I never played for Penn Fusion or learned the values they instill each and every day, my dream would have only been a dream. The staff not only taught me how to act and carry myself on the field, but also off the field. The club is definitely an integral part of where I am today; I truly want to thank them for everything!”