After graduating from high school, Silvera attended the University of Virginia where he played as a midfielder on the men's soccer team from 1992 to 1995.
In the early 1990s, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) signed players to national team contracts.
From this pool of players, the league allocated four to each team in order to ensure an initial equitable distribution of talent.
Eddie Firmani, coach of the MetroStars had requested Silvera based on his standout performances with the University of Virginia and the U.S. B-Teams.
[citation needed] By the end of the season, the MetroStars coaching staff had moved him to defensive midfielder, but he never adapted to this role either.
On February 3, 1997, the MetroStars traded Silvera to the Kansas City Wizards for Mike Sorber and the first round pick in the 1998 MLS College Draft.