Sept. 17, 2008
Rowland relishes fresh start with Hoops – MLSNet.com
Former University of New Mexico All-American men’s soccer player Jeff Rowland (2002-05) has signed with Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas for the remainder of the 2008 season. The league’s regular season runs through the end of October.
Rowland was selected with the second overall pick in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft by Real Salt Lake, but has twice torn the ACL in his right knee since then.
After spending the last two years rehabbing his injury, Rowland played for the Wilmington (N.C.) Hammerheads in the USL this summer where he scored five goals in 18 games.
After a brief tryout with FC Dallas, Rowland signed on with the team for the rest of the season.
Rowland joins Andrew Boyens (New York Red Bulls), Lance Watson (Kansas City Wizards) and Mike Graczyk (Colorado Rapids) as former Lobos currently in the MLS.
Rowland went from a non-recruited walk-on to New Mexico’s first two-time All-American, earning the honor in 2004 and 2005. He was the 2004 MPSF co-Player of the Year and a 2005 Hermann Trophy Finalist. He led UNM to three Mountain Pacific Sports Federation titles, including the memorable run to the 2005 College Cup Finals. He is third in scoring in UNM history with 104 points and second with 45 career goals.