Revolution Defender Heaps To Retire

New England Revolution defender Jay Heaps has decided to retire from professional soccer and will make the official announcement later this week, according to a report in the Boston Globe. His leadership and experience will be sorely missed by New England, who fielded two rookies (Kevin Alston, Darrius Barnes) alongside Heaps in defense for the majority of the 2009 season.

A standout in two sports - basketball and soccer - at Duke University, Heaps was selected by the Miami Fusion in the 1999 College Draft and went on to take home Rookie of the Year honors in his first professional season. He joined the New England Revolution during the 2001 season through a trade and has been a rock in the back ever since, helping the club reach four MLS Cup finals during this decade ('02, '05, '06, '07). Heaps' 314 career appearances are eighth-most in MLS history; he leads the Revolution in all-time games played (243) and all-time playoff appearances (28). Internationally, the New Hampshire native received his first call-up to represent the United States during this past summer's Gold Cup, making four appearances to help the USMNT reach the tournament final.