Mark Lisi

MetroStars General Manager Nick Sakiewicz announced today that the team has acquired midfielder Mark Lisi and defender Craig Ziadie from D.C. United in exchange for midfielder Petter Villegas and defender Orlando Perez. Both Lisi and Ziadie are expected to join the MetroStars in San Jose in time for their game against the Earthquakes this Saturday night at 10 p.m. ET at Spartan Stadium.

"We're excited to add two young players with tremendous upside to our roster," said Sakiewicz. "We've been very high on Mark Lisi since he was a college player (at Clemson), and we think he will be a perfect fit with our team. And Craig is a very solid defender with a strong ability to go forward, which will serve us very well in our system."

Now in his second MLS season, Lisi led D.C. United in games played as a rookie with 25, finishing third on the team in scoring with 13 points (four goals, five assists). He has played in six games for D.C. this season, starting two. Ziadie, also in his second MLS season, has made just one appearance for D.C. so far this season, but started in 13 of his 18 games played on United's back line last season.

Villegas, in his fifth season with the MetroStars, started all seven of the team's games this season and was tied with Diego Serna for the team lead in assists with three. Perez, in his third season as a MetroStar, played in two games, starting one, after starting 21 of 24 games played last season as a left-side defender.

Lisi will wear number 15 and Ziadie will wear number 20 for this Saturday's game against San Jose before each player is assigned a permanent jersey number early next week.