Heath Pearce

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Heath Pearce has become the latest former University of Portland men’s soccer player to join the German top flight, signing a two-year deal with Hansa Rostock after a short trial. Pearce, 22, follows fellow Pilots Conor Casey, Steve Cherundolo and Kasey Keller to the Bundesliga.

Casey is currently with the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.

“Pearce and Hansa Rostock have agreed to a deal until June 2009,” Sporting Director Herbert Maronn confirmed. “We expect him to compete and challenge for an important spot on our team. We are excited to have a young player of his caliber joining us for preseason and the upcoming season.”

Hansa Rostock, last members of the Bundesliga in the 2004-05 season, won promotion after finishing eight points behind Second Bundesliga’s runaway winners Karlsruhe.

Pearce, who spent the past two and a half years with FC Nordsjaelland in the Danish Superliga, was previously linked to FC Copenhagen, Hannover 96 and AEK Athens. Pearce has also earned several caps with the U.S. National Team.