ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico United announced on Wednesday it had added three more signings for its inaugural season in the USL Championship, including experienced forwards David Estrada and Kevaughn Frater. Joining the attacking duo is goalkeeper Ben Beaury, with all three signings pending league and federation approval.

Both Estrada and Beaury have previously played for United Head Coach Troy Lesesne at the Charlotte Independence, with Estrada looking forward to reuniting with his former coach in New Mexico this season.

“I’m truly excited to work with [Coach] Lesesne again. I know his style of play will get results and the players he’s recruiting are all hungry to make the inaugural year in New Mexico a memorable one,” said Estrada. “Together with [Peter] Trevisani’s vision, the whole community is in for an exciting first season of pro soccer.”

Originally from Morelia, Mexico, Estrada will enter his 10th professional season next spring after originally being selected in the First Round of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by Seattle Sounders FC. In 2018, Estrada returned to the Pacific Northwest to play for the USL Championship’s Seattle Sounders 2, where he made 33 appearances and recorded 11 goals and two assists.

Estrada has made 126 appearances all-time in the USL Championship, having previously competed in the league for the Independence for a pair of seasons in 2016-17, and previously for Orange County SC, Sacramento Republic FC and on loan to the Charlotte Eagles. He has recorded 26 goals and 11 assists over the course of his USL Championship career.

“David has a work ethic and an engine that's second to none. Even as a veteran player, he continues to fine tune his game and improve as indicated by scoring a career high of 11 goals last season,” said Lesesne. “Above his on-field talents, David is a player that will make our culture better every day. I was fortunate to work with him in 2016 and 2017, and am grateful to be with him again for 2019."

Frater arrives with New Mexico after spending the past campaign with fellow USL Championship side Phoenix Rising FC. A native of Portmore, Jamaica, Frater recorded three goals and one assist 21 appearances for Rising FC, where he was on loan from Jamaican club Harbour View FC. The 24-year-old has recorded 16 goals and eight assists in the USL Championship in his career, having also played for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and Real Monarchs SLC in previous seasons.

“I'm thrilled to have Kevaughn with New Mexico United. He's going to give us a completely different dimension in the way we attack. He has pace, power, and technique and knows how to create goals for himself and his teammates,” said Lesesne. “He has significant experience in the USL and I'm looking forward to working with a talent like Kevaughn.”

“I’m grateful for this opportunity and extremely excited to be a part of the New Mexico United family,” said Frater. “Together we can achieve anything.”

Beaury served as a back-up goalkeeper in his first professional season with the Independence in 2018, where he worked directly with Coach Lesesne. Prior to turning professional, Beaury attended college at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY, where he earned Northeast-10 All-Conference First Team and Northeast-10 Goalkeeper of the Year honors. In his senior season with Le Moyne, he had 10 appearances, 86 saves and a 1.01 goals allowed average.

“I had the pleasure of working with Ben in Charlotte last season and he is another great addition to our club,” said Lesesne. “He possesses a quiet determination to learn and improve every single day, and this type of mentality is exactly what our club is about. I saw first-hand how much he developed over the course the 2018 season, and I expect the same trend for him in 2019.”