Sockers Sign MSL Veteran Carbonara

To shore up their defense, the Sockers on Tuesday signed Glenn Carbonara, a two-year veteran of the Major Soccer League.

To make room for Carbonara, Saeed Bakhtiari was released.

Carbonara and seven-year player Kevin Crow are the only true defenders on the team with MSL experience.

A New Jersey native, Carbonara, 24, was originally drafted from Rutgers by the Minnesota Strikers in June 1988. Later that summer, the Strikers folded and the Baltimore Blast picked up his rights.

Carbonara played sparingly his first year with the Blast, but last season he had 31 blocks in 32 regular-season games and 14 in 11 playoff games.

The Sockers also said they expect midfielder Paul Dougherty to play in this weekend’s games at St. Louis and Wichita. Dougherty could not play in the season opener because of visa problems, but Coach Ron Newman said he expects that matter to be resolved.