Interesting that Nik Robson was selected in the third round of the supplemental draft. Compare that to Andy Boyens who was selected in the first round of the Superdraft and Jarrod Smith who was first round in the supplemental draft.
Kiwis at US Colleges
TFC had the very next pick, 39th overall, and here's where things start to get as sketchy as you'd expect they would be. Nik Robson. A midfielder from the university of New Mexico, he was nowhere to be found in any experts mock drafts or lists of sleeeper picks. He didn't even make Top Drawer Scocer's top 100, and there's no video of him from MLSSoccer.com, which probably give you a good indication of his chances, though this youtube video from his time at UCF includes an impressive goal or two. The biggest downside? He's from New Zealand, thus requiring an international spot that means he'll have to do something special in the next few weeks to have any chance of even going to Disneyland never mind make the official squad. He does have a charming portfolio online though, which includes the fact that he has "now read over 50 non-fiction books from science to self help in an attempt to be a better person and understand the world around me."
http://www.wakingthered.com/2013/1/22/3905734/ashton-bennet-jose-gomez-toronto-fc-supplemental-draft
Blake Smith was drafted by the Montreal Impact with the 8th pick of the draft, Devon Sandoval was drafted by Real Salt Lake with the 29th pick and Nik Robson was drafted by Toronto FC with the 39th pick of the supplemental draft. All three are currently in preseason camp and are doing well.
http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/020713aae.html
michael okeefe has just signed with usl side Ocean City Nor'easters
michael okeefe has just signed with usl side Ocean City Nor'easters
Francis de Vries born 28/11/94 is a Kiwi US college player to keep an eye on - former Canterbury United youth team player of Swiss parentage won the Swiss national youth league with FC Basel u-18's a couple of years ago. Now a Saint Francis University freshman, he played 23 games for them in his first season completed in November:
http://www.sfuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3167
http://www.sfuathletics.com/news/2013/12/26/MSOC_1226133405.aspx
Lorreto, Pa. - (Dec. 27, 2013) Francis de Vries (Christchurch, New Zealand/Cashmere High School ) concluded the 2013 year by landing a spot on College Soccer News Second All-Freshman squad. The freshman stand out from New Zealand also made his presence known in the Top Drawer Soccer freshman poll ranking 22nd out of the field of 100.
de Vries made the most of his rookie season at Saint Francis; he was named to the NSCAA second team, while nabbing freshman of the week honors twice, and ended the season by being selected to the Northeast Conference first team.
Daniel Carbonatto-Bowkett - Team Wellington youth player / Phoenix Academy seems set to take up a scholarship at Princeton University in the States to play football and study aeronautical engineering:
"My aim is to be a professional football player - that's what I want to do."
It has already been a big year for Bowkett, who was named the MVP of the national secondary schools side and did enough on the northern hemisphere tour to earn a trial with Reading.
He spent 10 days with Reading and though it did not lead to any offers, he was thrilled by the opportunity. "It was an unbelievable experience and I really enjoyed it. I thought I played well too, which meant a lot to me."
In the longer term, Bowkett is aiming to make the New Zealand team that will contest the under-20 World Cup on home turf in 2015.
Daniel Carbonatto-Bowkett - Team Wellington youth player / Phoenix Academy seems set to take up a scholarship at Princeton University in the States to play football and study aeronautical engineering:
"My aim is to be a professional football player - that's what I want to do."
It has already been a big year for Bowkett, who was named the MVP of the national secondary schools side and did enough on the northern hemisphere tour to earn a trial with Reading.
He spent 10 days with Reading and though it did not lead to any offers, he was thrilled by the opportunity. "It was an unbelievable experience and I really enjoyed it. I thought I played well too, which meant a lot to me."
In the longer term, Bowkett is aiming to make the New Zealand team that will contest the under-20 World Cup on home turf in 2015.
Let's see them fit that name on his shirt!
Daniel Carbonatto-Bowkett - Team Wellington youth player / Phoenix Academy seems set to take up a scholarship at Princeton University in the States to play football and study aeronautical engineering:
"My aim is to be a professional football player - that's what I want to do."
It has already been a big year for Bowkett, who was named the MVP of the national secondary schools side and did enough on the northern hemisphere tour to earn a trial with Reading.
He spent 10 days with Reading and though it did not lead to any offers, he was thrilled by the opportunity. "It was an unbelievable experience and I really enjoyed it. I thought I played well too, which meant a lot to me."
In the longer term, Bowkett is aiming to make the New Zealand team that will contest the under-20 World Cup on home turf in 2015.
Let's see them fit that name on his shirt!
He wants to be a professional football player but is studying aeronautical engineering, at Princeton, no less! Good plan B; though there is a school of thought (excuse pun) that even having a plan B makes plan A less likely.
Bowkett a quality young lad
Daniel Carbonatto-Bowkett - Team Wellington youth player / Phoenix Academy seems set to take up a scholarship at Princeton University in the States to play football and study aeronautical engineering:
"My aim is to be a professional football player - that's what I want to do."
It has already been a big year for Bowkett, who was named the MVP of the national secondary schools side and did enough on the northern hemisphere tour to earn a trial with Reading.
He spent 10 days with Reading and though it did not lead to any offers, he was thrilled by the opportunity. "It was an unbelievable experience and I really enjoyed it. I thought I played well too, which meant a lot to me."
In the longer term, Bowkett is aiming to make the New Zealand team that will contest the under-20 World Cup on home turf in 2015.
Let's see them fit that name on his shirt!
He wants to be a professional football player but is studying aeronautical engineering, at Princeton, no less! Good plan B; though there is a school of thought (excuse pun) that even having a plan B makes plan A less likely.
Princeton admittedly aren't one of the top soccer colleges in the States (NCAA rank 103 of 203 Div. One colleges) but the league they play in, the "Ivy League" has produced some players signed by MLS clubs the last few months so he'll gain exposure and could be in the sights of MLS if he does well. Princeton Tigers fourth in the Ivy League last year and four players in the All-Ivy First Eleven.
Ryan Nelsen did a proper Political Science degree at Stanford (current rank 23), Simon Elliott a History degree, both useful qualifications from a prestigious university. Most players on sports scholarships just do Sports Science etc.
So, lets hope he follows in Ryan and Simons' footsteps academically and sporting-wise....
Does anyone know whether Darren Melville's two sons who are studying in the US are any good?
Growing up in the Waikato in the late 80s/early 90s I became a huge fan of Melville, Hayes and co. Wish WaiBop (crap crap name) had players like him, Fellowes, Cossey etc now.
Blake Smith was drafted by the Montreal Impact with the 8th pick of the draft, Devon Sandoval was drafted by Real Salt Lake with the 29th pick and Nik Robson was drafted by Toronto FC with the 39th pick of the supplemental draft. All three are currently in preseason camp and are doing well.
http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/020713aae.html
Have any of these lads picked up full MLS contracts?
Blake Smith was drafted by the Montreal Impact with the 8th pick of the draft, Devon Sandoval was drafted by Real Salt Lake with the 29th pick and Nik Robson was drafted by Toronto FC with the 39th pick of the supplemental draft. All three are currently in preseason camp and are doing well.
http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/020713aae.html
Have any of these lads picked up full MLS contracts?
Robson scored at the weekend in Big Cup. For East Coast Bays, maybe?
Congrats to @bigtenconf Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year: @NUMensSoccer's Nikko Boxall! http://t.co/ynzJQ72xYi
— Northwestern on BTN (@BTN_NU) November 13, 2014
Congrats to @bigtenconf Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year: @NUMensSoccer's Nikko Boxall! http://t.co/ynzJQ72xYi
— Northwestern on BTN (@BTN_NU) November 13, 2014
Well done to him. Sign him up to the nix, well have the all boxall center-backs
Boxall was also selected in the the 1st team for the conference
Thats really impressive... he will definately be in the mix for a MLS contract.
Good stuff, more kiwis (possibly) playing at levels like the MLS the better.
Andy Bevin looks to be doing well. Could be in line for the draft as I've seen talk of him being in the top 10 in the country for some of the stats they go on about.
Senior CLASS and Academic All-America finalist Andy Bevin was named the 2014 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. A forward, Bevin was an offensive force for the Mountaineers in 2014, leading the MAC in points and points per game with 32 points in 18 games this season. Additionally, Bevin ranked second in the MAC overall with 12 goals, eight assists and four game-winning goals. In his five MAC games, scored a league leading six goals in five games and added a single assist to earn him 13 points. Aside form a hat trick against Buffalo, Bevin's most impressive game may have come October 22, when Bevin scored both second half goals in a 2-1 win over then #12 Penn State in University Park, Pa.
Forgetting these guys arent that appealling to MLS sides given foreign status
Way to bring down the optimism : )
Forgetting these guys arent that appealling to MLS sides given foreign status
The money ain't that great for squad filler as well. A-League minium wage is probably above what they would get.
Forgetting these guys arent that appealling to MLS sides given foreign status
Can you explain this with more detail? I never thought it wasa major drama a young kiwi being signed after Uni. Boxall Senior, Keat and Gleeson. Hardly household names. Has something changed recently?
Alex Ridsdale opened the scoring for Xavier but they ended up losing the Big East Championship final 2-1 to Providence.
Alex Ridsdale opened the scoring for Xavier but they ended up losing the Big East Championship final 2-1 to Providence.
Cory Brown played at CB for Xavier too.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/10638882/Nayland-mates-in-the-States
Stuart Holthusen was one of our best players in the u-17 World Cup in the UAE last year and played last season for Wanderers SC in the ASB Premiership. He has since signed for the University of Akron, USA:
http://www.gozips.com/sports/msoc/2014-15/bios/hol...
Mid-American Conference Season just finished: Played: 19 Started: 9 Goals: 4 Assists: 3
Played in the same conference as fellow Kiwi Andy Bevin but is much younger (18).
Now in the national NCAA Finals (Akron are one of the top ten college sides in the USA - were #1 in 2010):
http://www.gozips.com/sports/msoc/2014-15/releases...
"Akron opens its run in the NCAA Championship battling Ohio State on Thursday, Nov. 20, in the opening round of the 48-team tournament. Game time at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium is set for 5 p.m.
Under the guidance of second-year head coach Jared Embick, the Zips stand 13-6-1 overall after a 2-1 triumph over Bowling Green on Sunday, Nov. 16, in the MAC Championship.
After 20 matches, sophomore midfielder Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) is the Zips' leading scorer with 13 goals, four assists, and 30 points. Freshman forward Stuart Holthusen(Auckland, New Zealand) follows with four goals, four assists, and 12 points."
http://www.goxavier.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/112...
Alex Ridsdale scores as Xavier go through to NCAA round two
http://www.goxavier.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/112...
Alex Ridsdale scores as Xavier go through to NCAA round two
Xavier progress to the next round after a 2-1 win away to 5th seed Indiana
Stuart Holthusen's Akron were unlucky to lose on penalties to Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Finals.
Holthusen came on as a sub in the second half. He's one of the youngest members of the Akron side as an 18 year-old freshman.
1-1 after normal time and two periods of extra time, it was decided on penalties after a marathon 15 rounds of pens.
Holthusen missed his attempt early on but wasn't the only player from either side to do so of course as it went on and on...
http://www.wvusports.com/page.cfm?story=26824&cat=exclusives Andy Bevin picking up some good awards
Forgetting these guys arent that appealling to MLS sides given foreign status
Can you explain this with more detail? I never thought it wasa major drama a young kiwi being signed after Uni. Boxall Senior, Keat and Gleeson. Hardly household names. Has something changed recently?
Gleeson never went through college system. Played PDL with Portland Timbers U20 and signed pro terms after one unbeaten season with the team.
Bevin is in a couple extended MLS draft lists. Comes in mid 30's. Not sure if this is because he's ranked there on ability or because he is a foreign signing.
Nikko Boxall is similarly placed.
Xavier progress to the next round after a 2-1 win away to 5th seed Indiana
http://www.ncaa.com/game/soccer-men/d1/2014/11/23/...
How old is Bevin now? Was always impressed with his creativity playing age group football for New Zealand
Andy Bevin has been invited to the MLS Combine.
Andy Bevin has been invited to the MLS Combine.
I believe you have to be a Senior to be invited to the Combine, so he'd be finishing either this month or April/May next year.
