http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20041202&content_id=19818&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp Goalkeepers -- 6 Jay Nolly -- Indiana Christopher Sawyer -- Notre Dame T.J. Tomasso -- Southern Methodist Noah Palmer -- Maryland Dan Kennedy -- Santa Barbara John O'Hara -- George Mason Midfield -- 19 Jamal Shteiwi -- Kentucky Kevon Harris -- Old Dominion John Minagowa-Webster -- Michigan State Luke Kreamaimeyer -- Bradley Michael Enfield -- UCLA Marcus Storley -- North Carolina Nick Van Sicklen -- Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison Danny O'Rourke -- Indiana Steven Rhyne -- Clemson Doug Lascody -- SW Missouri St. Jeffrey Krause -- New Mexico Hans Bevers -- New Mexico Simone Salinno -- St. John's Mubarike Chisoni -- Coastal Carolina Thabiso Khumalo -- Coastal Carolina Ian Rodway -- Maryland Domenic Mediate -- Maryland Amir Lowery -- Wake Forest Chris Karcz -- Rutgers Defenders -- 23 Guy Melamed -- Boston College Stephen Arias -- UConn Matt Kovar -- Loyola Marymount Dan Gargan -- Georgetown Aaron Pitchkolan -- West Virginia Aaron Lopez -- UCLA Tim Merritt -- North Carolina Matt Oliver -- Virginia Jack Stewart -- Notre Dame Kevin Goldthwaite -- Notre Dame Ugochukweu Ihemelu -- Southern Methodist Jeff Larentower -- Brown Nick Pollard -- SW Missouri St. Chris Corcoran -- St. John's Ryan Kelly -- St. John's Craig Klaas -- Washington Cameron Knowles -- Akron Gonzalo Segares -- Virginia Commonwealth Troy Roberts -- UC Berkley James Riley -- Wake Forest Tony Lockhead -- UC Santa Barbara Drew Cavanagh -- College of Charleston Danny Sullivan -- Bowdoin College (DIII) Forwards -- 18 Alon Lubezky -- Hartford Mychal Turpin -- Michigan Knox Cameron -- Michigan Eugene Sepuya -- Alabama A&M Julian Nash -- Creighton Chris Lee -- Marquette Antouman Jallow -- Univ. of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Ryan Latham -- Southern Methodist Jerrod Laventure -- Seton Hall Justin Cook -- Ohio State Chad Severs -- Penn State Chris Rolfe -- Dayton Abe Thompson -- Maryland Edwin Ruiz -- Hartwick Scott Selay -- Wake Forest Jamie Holmes -- Birmingham Southern Usiel Vasquez -- Southern Connecticut (DII) Orlando Ramirez -- Fresno Pacific University (NAIA)
I was surprised to see Taylor Twellman's younger brother, James, not on the list. http://gostanford.collegesports.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/twellman_james00.html Anyone got the inside on what his post graduation plans are?
So what's the deal with the Combine? Will only seniors end up participating, or will we see lower classmen join on later? I'm assuming clubs are free to draft anyone, not just those players selected for the combine, correct?
lower classmen that sign with the league will be there as well but since they haven't signed, they can't be on the list right now...
For me, the two most surprising omissions are Matt Groenwald of Saint John's, who is on the Hermann Trophy watch list, and Drew McAthy of UCSB. Groenwald wasn't selected when three of his teammates were, and McAthy has just been a dominant goal-scorer for the Gauchos for the last four years. I wonder if they asked to not be included? Or is there something I'm missing?
the list is made up of kids coaches have stated they are interested in meaning the two you listed were not mentioned that is not to say that they won't get drafted, just that that they were not listed... it's not unheard of to not list someone so that others won't get to see him at the combine (although you would figure people have seen these two)
Yeah, I understand how it works - I just find it hard to believe that all of those forwards chosen could be higher rated than a big, powerful guy who has scored 50 goals for one of the best teams in the country. I guess several coaches could have been sandbagging him, but if the Gauchos beat UNCG this weekend, they'll be on national TV, so he wont be much of a secret. Same for Groenwald if St. John's gets past Maryland.
what about the one player each from the lower divisions? is it just curtosey or r they the only players at that level good enough?
hard to say... they probably had good careers in the lower levels... but they probably were also the few lower level guys that played pdl and played well there there is a crap load of scouting for the pdl... which might also have to do with why the guys above weren't invited to the combine
Actually, there's a whole bunch of lower level guys who play in the PDL and do well; multiple from Fresno Pacific, even. Ramirez tore up the PDL in 2003, scoring 11 goals and 3 assists in just 811 minutes for a very good Fresno Fuego team. Sullivan didn't play PDL in 2003 or 2004, nor did Usiel Vasquez. One interesting omission is Eric Vasquez, who was the PDL Rookie of the Year in 2003, but didn't play at U Central Florida this season because of academic problems, and was apparently entering the draft.
Brief comparison to last year's draft: Last year, MLS named 54 college seniors to the combine; that's very proportional to this year's 66 when you account for the two extra teams (54*1.2=64.8). I'm more than a little bit disappointed that MLS didn't increase the combine, considering the increase in developmental spots and the recent success of late draft picks. Of the 54 seniors, 36 were chosen in the draft. When you take out P-40's, they filled 36/51 (70.1%) draft spots; high-drafted players who weren't at the combine included Chris Wingert, Will Hesmer, Kevin Taylor, Olivier Occean, Mike Wilson.
Actually, there's a whole bunch of lower level guys who play in the PDL and do well; multiple from Fresno Pacific, even. Ramirez tore up the PDL in 2003, scoring 11 goals and 3 assists in just 811 minutes for a very good Fresno Fuego team. Sullivan didn't play PDL in 2003 or 2004, nor did Usiel Vasquez. One interesting omission is Eric Vasquez, who was the PDL Rookie of the Year in 2003, but didn't play at U Central Florida this season because of academic problems, and was apparently entering the draft.
Not that I really follow college soccer till the Final Four rolls around, but I thought Salinno finished up last year, along with his fellow Italian Matia Damiani. Whatever happened to Damiani?
I would think that if a freshman comes into a strong confersnce like the ACC and tears it up then he should get a look like the offensive Midi from Duke he could help a lot of teams.
Glad to see this. Been following him for a few years now. Has been a big cog for that strong Fresno Fuego PDL team. Is absolutely tailor made for Chivas, it's even his favorite team.
If 'Chives' is planning to draft from the combine, they'd best hope that some of those with non-Latino souding names can speak Spanish. Given, however, the reportedly lower percentage of Latino college enrollment and particpation in suburban-based travel teams that I assume feed the college ranks, it could be that the combine isn't part of Chivas' plans anyway.
Well if that's the case what do some of you believe the chance is that Chivas will use it's first round draft pick for trade bate? Perhaps they could pry a player of their choice away from a team. For example (hypothetical): If KC wanted that # 2 draft pick badly enough they might be willing to part with Diego Gutierez (SP?)