Dec. 10, 2009
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.–Major League Soccer today announced an initial list of 62 seniors from 44 Division I schools who are invited to participate in the 2010 adidas MLS Player Combine. New Mexico senior forward/midfielder Justin Davis is included in this list and will participate in the annual combine, held at Central Broward Regional Park in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Jan. 8-12, 2010.
“It’s a great, well-deserved honor that Justin was selected for the MLS Combine,” said Lobo head coach Jeremy Fishbein. “As excited as I am for him, however, I’m also disappointed that our other seniors weren’t selected. I feel that they’re very deserving, and were some of the top players in the country. That being said, each will get opportunities to show for professional teams and hopefully will get the opportunity to play [professionally] upon graduation.”
The coaching staffs of all 16 MLS teams will be on hand to scout the players attending the combine, which concludes two days prior to the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. The 2009 MLS SuperDraft was considered one of the best talent pools in SuperDraft history, as 42 of the 60 players who attended the combine were drafted. The 2010 MLS SuperDraft will be held in Philadelphia on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010.
Davis looks to join an impressive list of University of New Mexico men’s soccer players who have gone on to enjoy successful careers in the MLS. The Lobos have had eight players compete for MLS clubs since 2005 and the ninth, Hans Bevers, passed on the MLS in 2005 to play professionally in Belgium.
In the 2005 SuperDraft, Jeff Krause was drafted by the Colorado Rapids and teammate Andrew Weber started his professional career with D.C. United. Weber played for the Montreal Impact of the USL from 2006-08 before signing with the MLS San Jose Earthquakes in 2009.
The Lobos had four players taken in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. Lance Watson was drafted by the Kansas City Wizards and plays there currently, while Brandon Moss was taken by the Columbus Crew. New Mexico native Jeff Rowland was drafted by Real Salt Lake in 2006 and signed with FC Dallas in 2008. Josh Brown was taken by the Colorado Rapids in 2006.
Andrew Boyens was drafted by Toronto FC in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft before signing with the New York Red Bulls in 2009. He is still active with the Red Bulls, and will represent his native New Zealand in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
In the 2008 SuperDraft, the Colorado Rapids drafted Mike Graczyk. Graczyk played with them for a year before signing with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2009, where he is still active.
Davis looks to join this impressive list of former Lobos with today’s invitation to the 2010 adidas MLS Player Combine.