Dec. 28, 2005
Three University of New Mexico men’s soccer players have been invited by Major League Soccer to participate in the 2006 adidas MLS Player Combine. Seniors Brandon Moss, Jeff Rowland and Lance Watson were all invited to participate in the MLS predraft camp being held for the third consecutive year at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California from January 12-15, 2006.
The coaching staffs and general managers from all 12 MLS teams will be in attendance to scout talent at the 2006 adidas MLS Player Combine, which concludes five days before the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. The 2006 MLS SuperDraft will be held on Friday, January 20, 2006 in Philadelphia, Pa. in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Of the 48 players selected in the four rounds of the 2005 MLS SuperDraft, 39 had participated in the 2005 adidas Player Combine.
The initial list of players for the 2006 adidas Player Combine was determined by a select panel of Division I college coaches representing all conferences, who nominated and voted for players in conjunction with MLS coaches. Youth players from the Generation adidas program will join additional collegiate players from NCAA Division II and III schools, NAIA schools and Division I alternates to finalize the 2006 adidas Player Combine.
The 2006 adidas MLS Player Combine will separate all players into four teams and feature doubleheaders at The Home Depot Center on the mornings of January 13, 14 and 15. Players will arrive on January 12 and participate in organizational training sessions that same afternoon at The Home Depot Center. The Torrance Marriott will serve as the official headquarters of the adidas MLS Player Combine and the host hotel for players and coaching staffs.
Moss was a four-year starter for the Lobos and a team captain since his sophomore season. Rowland is a Hermann Trophy Finalist who led the team with 16 goals and four assists in 2005. He is also the first two-time All-American in school history. Watson was a third team All-American in 2005 after leading the team with nine assists to go with three goals.
This is the second-consecutive year the Lobos have sent players to the MLS Combine. Last season, seniors Jeff Krause and Hans Bevers participated in the camp as the first Lobos ever invited to the combine.