August 23, 2012
LITTLE HOPE FOR RYAN
Meara expected to miss rest of season after hip surgery

Ryan Meara is expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on Thursday. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

Don't hold your breath on Red Bulls rookie goalkeeper Ryan Meara returning to the club this season.

The Red Bulls said Meara was expected to miss the rest of the Major League Soccer season after the former Fordham standout under arthroscopic surgery on Thursday morning to repair an injury to his left hip.

The procedure was performed by Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

The news had to be devastating for Meara, who played so well for the Red Bulls, starting the first 18 games of the season and looking like someone who had played professionally for years.

Considered a strong candidate for MLS rookie of the year, Meara registered a 9-5-4 mark and a 1.50 goals-against average.

Meara's last appearance for the Red Bulls was in a 2-0 loss at the New England Revolution on July 8.

The Yonkers, N.Y. native set a shutout record for an rookie keeper when he did not surrendered a goal over 321 minutes while backstopping the Red Bulls in their five-game winning streak from April 18 to May 19.

Last month the Red Bulls acquired former St. John's goalkeeper Bill Gaudette from the LA Galaxy as insurance and he has played for the team. The club also signed Luis Robles, who made a CONCACAF Gold Cup appearance with the United States in 2009, and already had rookie Jeremy Vuolo in reserve.

The Red Bulls face Sporting Kansas City at Livestrong Sporting Park on Sunday night.