Chivas USA bolsters defense by signing U.S. international Heath Pearce

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Having lost starting left back Jonathan Bornstein to Tigres of the Mexican league during the Major League Soccer off-season, Chivas USA on Tuesday added some depth to the position by acquiring another U.S. national team defender, Heath Pearce.

Pearce, 26, assisted on six goals in 2010 while helping Dallas win the Western Conference title. Chivas gave up allocation money for the former University of Portland player, who will vie with Canadian international Ante Jazic for the starting role on the left side of the defense in 2011.

Pearce joined Dallas in 2009 after playing professionally in Europe, first with FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark and then with Hansa Rostock in Germany.

In other player moves Tuesday, Chivas USA released three players from its preseason camp in Arizona. They were goalkeeper Kevin Guppy, Canadian defender Curtis Ushedo, who was picked in January’s MLS supplemental draft, and midfielder Norberto Ochoa.

Chivas USA lost its second preseason game in a row Tuesday when goals by Jamison Olave and Will Johnson gave Real Salt Lake a 2-0 win in a scrimmage at Casa Grande, Ariz. On Saturday, Chivas USA dropped a 1-0 decision to the Seattle Sounders.

--Grahame L. Jones