News Release
The Next Step
Although the 2006 men�s D3 soccer season came to an end over two months ago, several former players have been staying very active in their off time. More than twenty D3 players have or will be participating in a variety of showcases, tryouts, and combines around the country to try and catch the eye of a professional scout.
While no D3 players participated in the recent MLS combine, several players have been invited and attended Major League Soccer tryouts throughout the States. Wartburg College�s D3Kicks.com First Team All-American, Harrison "The Sonic Boom" Kibombo-Lugujjo was one of five D3 players that attended a tryout for the Columbus Crew on December 8. Harrison�s former coach Jim Conlon said the tryout went very well and Harrison "is still in the midst of evaluating his options". At the same tryout were four former Medaille College players; 2006 D3Kicks.com Second Team All-American, Cory Cwiklinski, D3Kicks.com First Team All American, Ryan Mangano, D3Kicks.com First Team All-Region, Jeremy Watson, and 2005 graduate Andrew Larracuente. No word has been received about the outcome of the tryouts for the Medaille players. Williams College�s All American defender Dana Leary recently participated in a one day tryout with former MLS champs DC United, and Coach Russo says that he will also be attending a tryout with the New England Revolution on February 2. Also, Ryan Shaughnessy, a 2005 graduate of Hardin-Simmons was invited to participate in a tryout for the Dallas Burn on February 3. Shaughnessy was named the 2005 ASC Defensive Player of the Year after an exceptional year between the pipes.
From December 17-20, 18 confirmed D3 players participated in the USL Pro Soccer Men�s Showcase in Tampa, Florida.
06� Players
Claudio Dias-Plattsburgh State University
Jeremiah Essmyer-Greenville College
Ramon Franklyn-Bethany College
Glenn Gray-University of Mary Washington
David Horne-Centre College
Ryan Mangano- Medaille College
Louie Rolko-Baldwin-Wallace College
Ali Seyedali-Whitworth College
Alex Williams-Witzky-Baldwin-Wallace College
05� Players
Oluwafemi Badejo-Lincoln University
Roland Denis-Misercordia College
Colin Fernie-University of Rochester
Josh Greenleaf-Trinity University (TX)
Jeremy Jacobson-Johns Hopkins University
Brian Lawson-University of Puget Sound
David McNeil-Hope College
Ryan Shaughnessy-Hardin-Simmons College
04� Players
Baba Guisse-New Jersey City University
Over 200 players from around the world were invited to the showcase in Florida, with only four days to show the numerous scouts something exceptional.
One young man who mad a big impression was Claudio Dias, a D3Kicks.com Third Team All-American defender from Plattsburgh. Dias showed very well and was drafted in the first round of the 2007 USL First Division College Draft, by the Montreal Impact.
Jeremiah Essmyer, a soon to be 07� grad from Greenville College, also showed well at the USL Showcase, being offered a contract by the Vancouver Whitecaps of the USL-1. Essmyer�s former coach Brian McMahon said, �Jeremiah has great vision and is a great leader. The thing I enjoy most about Miah is his continual ability to play year round, regardless of whom it is with.�
Glenn Gray, a D3Kicks.com First Team All South Region selection, said "the showcase in Tampa was a great experience. There were a lot of good players at the combine from all levels of soccer." After the 2006 season, Gray immediately started playing indoor soccer for the semi-pro indoor team, The Fredericksburg Generals, of the Premier Arena Soccer League. Gray hopes the extra work will pay off at an upcoming Richmond Kickers tryout.
Brian Lawson, a 2005 graduate of the University of Puget Sound, also received some interest following the showcase. Lawson�s former coach, Reece Olney, Jr., informed D3Kicks.com that the Minnesota Thunder expressed an interest in the Lawson. Also, a few hundred miles closer to home, the Seattle Sounders have also taking a liking to the former collegiate goalkeeper. Regardless of where Lawson ends up, coach Olney knows "that Brian wants to continue his soccer career into the professional ranks and we couldn't be happier for him. As a division 3 coach I know there are a select few that can compete at the next level and we believe Brian may be one of those players."
Reid Ayers, head coach of Baldwin-Wallace College, says that "D3Kicks.com First Team All Region, Louie Rolko had a very good event and has heard from a number of teams.� Ayers also commented on the showcase itself; "I am excited for the players who get the opportunity to compete against the best players from all over the country. From the PDL to showcases, I always encourage our players to get the most of their potential. It is great for our program as those players can inspire our current player to do great things."
Colin Fernie, a 2006 graduate of the University of Rochester, says "the level of play at the combine was very high�I was shocked by the amount of scouts present." Fernie made an immediate impact on the showcase and was asked to partake in a March tryout with the Wilmington Hammerheads, of the USL Second Division.
Finally, David Horne, a D3Kicks.com Second Team All-Central Region Selection, and soon to be graduate of Centre College has provided us with a synopsis of the USL Showcase. To Horne�s read the synopsis, click here. After a first set of tryouts for the Cincinnati King�s, Horne has been invited back to partake in a second round of tryouts that will take place in March.
We at D3Kicks.com want to congratulate all of the D3 players out there that have pushed themselves to the limit so that they could have the opportunity to take the next step.
Submitted 2007-02-15 10:59:38 by D3Kicks.com Sports Information Department
