TAMPA, Fla. (Monday, February 05, 2001) – With the stunning upsets of the Chicago Sockers and Mid Michigan Bucks over the Kansas City Wizards and New England Revolution, respectively, in the 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup along with the PDL All-Star team’s success over the weekend at the annual Umbro Select tournament, it was no surprise that a high number of Premier Development League players, 28 in total, were selected in the 2001 Major League Soccer SuperDraft today at the Signature Grand hotel in Davie, Fla. At the end of the six-round draft, 40 players with USL experience were selected.
One of the most interesting selections was Mid Michigan goalkeeper Eric Pogue, taken by the Revolution, the club he defeated in the Open Cup, in the Fifth Round.
"I think this is a great opportunity for me, especially after the Open Cup game," said Pogue. "I’ve always had the dream to play (professionally) since I was a little kid, but after the New England game I could see that I could hold my own.
"The PDL is pretty much the main reason I am here right now. I am young and have a lot of learning ahead, but New England has a great coaching staff that is committed to developing young players. I hope to compete immediately."
"How could you forget him," said Revolution Head Coach Fernando Clavijo. "He did tremendous against us in the Open Cup and he did well in the combine."
Pogue was not the only USL player chosen by the Revolution, who typified the leaguewide trend of drafting young USL players and one or two solid, proven A-League veterans who could compete for a starting role immediately.
After picking former Seattle Sounders Select defender Nick Downing with the club’s first overall pick in the Second Round, the Revolution drafted three-time All A-League midfielder Yari Allnutt of the Rochester Raging Rhinos with their second overall pick in the Fourth Round.
"Over the last couple of years, I thought (Allnutt) was the best player in the A-League," said New England General Manager Todd Smith, GM of the A-League’s Hershey Wildcats from 1997-2000. "He is a proven professional. To me, it’s a steal-and-a-half. He’s wearing a couple of championship rings from Rochester."
Allnutt’s Rochester teammate defender Craig Demmin was the first A-League player drafted today, going sixth overall to the Tampa Bay Mutiny, who drafted college standout Ali Curtis with the second overall pick.
"I am very happy about everything and am looking forward to the future," said Demmin. "It was a tough decision. Rochester is like home with all of the friends, fans and players I liked a lot. I never thought I would have stayed the USL that long, but you form close-knit friendships and three years slip by just like that."
Like Allnutt, Demmin has been on the past three All A-League First Teams. He was originally a member of the PDL’s Jackson Chargers in 1997, where he was named the 1997 PDL Defender of the Year and was a member of the All-League Team.
"Demmin’s the whole package," said Tampa Bay President and General Manager Bill Manning. "Size, speed and aggressiveness."
The A-League’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds were hurt the most over the weekend. Defender Tenywa Bonseu, who showed his abilities late in the 2000 season through the MLS Cup final with the Chicago Fire, was allocated to the Columbus Crew Saturday, while former Richmond Kicker Dwayne DeRosario was allocated to the San Jose Earthquakes.
Three of Bonseu’s Riverhounds teammates with the Riverhounds were selected in the SuperDraft, beginning with Justin Evans, who was Chicago’s first overall pick (23rd overall) in the Second Round. Gary DePalma was picked up by Dallas (Round Five, 55th overall) and Phil Karn was chosen by Columbus (Round Six, 63rd overall).
Other standout PDL players chosen in the draft include Chicago Sockers goalkeeper Adam Throop, Des Moines Menace forward Fabio Eidelwein and Spokane Shadow forward Brian Ching.
Throop, who led the Chicago Sockers to two consecutive PDL National Championships and was named the 2000 PDL National Championship Most Valuable Player, was selected by the Mutiny in the Fourth Round (44th overall).
"We didn’t think he’d last until the Fourth Round," said Manning. "I’ve known of him for a couple of years and when he was still there, we knew who we wanted."
Throop finished with the PDL’s lowest goals-against average (0.82) in 2000, earning the Goalkeeper of the Year award. He led the Sockers to the title with four straight shutout performances, including a 1-0 championship victory over Mid Michigan, who possessed one of the league’s most potent offenses. In eight playoff appearances for Chicago over the past two seasons, Throop has allowed just two goals.
"I am feeling pretty good, pretty privileged," said Throop. "It is a good situation and I see myself fitting in. I am looking to invest myself for a year and pay my dues. Scott Garlick is a great goalkeeper, so I know my role – understudy.
"Chicago was definitely a great experience. It gave me a taste of good soccer, playing for a great coach in Bret Hall. It definitely helped my career."
The San Jose Earthquakes started off the Fourth Round by picking Eidelwein. The Des Moines Menace star was named the PDL MVP in 1999 after leading the league in points (48) and goals (20) while with the Sioux City Breeze. His first season with the Menace started off well, scoring on pace for another shot at league MVP when he suffered a severe hamstring strain midseason.
"Des Moines was a great experience," said Eidelwein. "I learned a lot there. Coming from Sioux City, it was a big step going to Des Moines. I loved it there and everyone treated me nice."
Ching, who won the 1998 PDL Rookie of the Year award after finishing third in both points (39) and goals (15) as well as fifth in assists (9) while playing for Spokane, was taken by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Second Round (16th overall).
His second season with the Shadow was cut short in an early season exhibition match against the A-League’s Seattle Sounders, where he suffered a devastating blow to the head that resulted in a fractured eyesocket. The injury forced him to miss the rest of the season.
His former teammate Craig Waibel, who went on to play for the A-League’s Seattle Sounders for the past two seasons, was drafted by San Jose in the Third Round (31st overall). Waibel got a taste MLS last season courtesy of two call-ups by the Colorado Rapids, seeing action twice. He was most recently called-up by Los Angeles to strengthen a thin defensive unit for the club’s CONCACAF Champions Cup championship run.
The Sounders also lost midfielder Andrew Gregor, who was drafted by MLS Cup champion Kansas City in the Second Round (24th overall).
The PDL’s Westchester Flames enjoyed an enormously successful sophomore season, finishing third in the PDL after coming up point shy of the regular season title, and paid the price, losing three players in the draft. The New York/New Jersey MetroStars drafted forward Rodrigo Faria in the Second Round (13th overall) and Tampa Bay added a pair of defenders in the Fifth Round with Mersim Beskovic (56th overall) and Hector Navarette (60th overall).
FIRST OVERALL PICK CARRIERI FROM PDL’S BRIGADE – The 2001 MLS SuperDraft’s first overall pick Chris Carrieri, chosen by San Jose, played briefly for the New Brunswick Brigade of the PDL in 2000, tallying three goals and an assist in two games.
PDL DOMINATES UMBRO SELECT ALL-STAR CLASSIC – The first-ever all-PDL squad was arguably the top team over the weekend handing the East College team a 2-0 loss with goals from Mid Michigan star Boniventure Maruti and 2000 PDL MVP Ricardo Elias-Salazar. The PDL All-Stars played the West team to a 1-1 draw Saturday night with the lone PDL strike coming on a beautiful side-volley by Eidelwein. The play was set up by Chicago Sockers defender Matthew Bobo, who sent a cross from the right side to Eidelwein. The PDL team capped the weekend off in the highlight game against the MLS Youth International team, handing the future MLS players a resounding 3-0 loss.
"They were never really tested the entire weekend," said Manager of PDL Operations Steve Clamp. "I really think that a number of players who were on the minds of the MLS coaches and executives showed well and in turn moved up on club draft lists. The team’s success this weekend speaks for itself. The PDL has a very high quality level of talent nationwide, which showed on the field and in the SuperDraft. The PDL is the best place for college players to improve their skills and odds for getting drafted."
UMBRO SELECT SUPER Y-LEAGUE TOURNAMENT A SUCCESS – Four winners were crowned in the inaugural Umbro Select Super Y-League tournament Sunday. The event included numerous Super Y-League clubs and a few other select youth clubs from throughout the nation. Reigning Super Y-League U14 champion CASL captured the U14 title with a 4-1 win over the Richmond Kickers, who will be joining the league in 2001. In the U15 bracket, the Michigan Wolves defeated TKO. Both clubs are joining the Super Y-League in 2001. Nationally renowned FC Delco, a member of the Super Y-League, captured the U16 championship with a 2-1 win over the Match Fit Academy, whose U18 squad won its division with a 5-1 victory over Tsunami Gold Soccer. Match Fit Academy is also joining the league in 2001, along with tournament participant FC Portland.
www.USLsoccer.com
