The Philadelphia Union have addressed their in-flux goalkeeping situation for the weekend, announcing Friday that they have acquired goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre on a short-term loan from Carolina RailHawks. Per club and league policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed. The team has also announced Rais Mbolhi will not travel to Vancouver.
“We have evaluated all of our options and feel that Brian gives us the best opportunity to get a result in Vancouver,” Union technical director Chris Albright said in a statement. “We have confidence in the familiarity he has with both our players and staff. Rais remains a member of the Philadelphia Union and we will continue to evaluate all options in the best interest of the club.”
Sylvestre, 22, spent the entire 2015 preseason with the Union before signing with Carolina. He was originally a product of the PDL's Schulz academy and joined the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency Program in 2010. In 2011, he made five appearances with Vancouver's PDL team and debuted with the Whitecaps reserves on June 20.
In 2013, Sylvestre joined the Union-affiliated Harrisburg City Islanders, but did not make any appearances for the club that year. His professional debut came in the 2014 US Open Cup, where he featured in all three of the City Islanders' games in that tournament, including a Fourth Round game against the Union. Sylvestre made 10 saves in that game to force extratime before the Union ultimately prevailed, 3-1.
"We took note," Union head coach Jim Curtin said after the game against Harrisburg. "Obviously he had a very good day. It's an affiliate, so you keep an eye on these guys. He had a great game."
Sylvestre also played three USL games in 2014 for the City Islanders, including two starts.
The club also announced that league pool goalkeeper Trey Mitchell will join the team in Vancouver to provide cover at the position. Mitchell is from Alta Loma, Calif. and played collegiately at Cal State Dominguez Hills.
