Loading

Devon Sandoval & Blake Smith Receive MLS Combine Invites

Devon Sandoval & Blake Smith Receive MLS Combine InvitesDevon Sandoval & Blake Smith Receive MLS Combine Invites

Dec. 11, 2012

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – University of New Mexico men’s soccer seniors Devon Sandoval and Blake Smith have been invited to the 2013 adidas MLS Player Combine. Sandoval and Smith are two of the 54 players invited to the premier pre-draft showcase for the Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The combine is held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from January 11-15 with the MLS SuperDraft being held on January 17 in Indianapolis.

“I am extremely happy for Devon and Blake. This invitation is well deserved, and I believe this opportunity will allow them to show they can be high-quality professional players. It’s such a great reward for two guys that are great teammates, students and members of our community,” said Head Coach Jeremy Fishbein.

Sandoval and Smith are the tenth and eleventh Lobos to receive invitations to the combine since 2005. While attending the event in Fort Lauderale, the duo will be playing in front of 19 MLS clubs. The two will look to become the latest Lobos to be drafted by the MLS as eight Lobos have been drafted since 2005.

Lobos in the MLS Player Combine

The Lobo Soccer program is one of only thirteen NCAA Division I men’s soccer programs to have multiple players receive an invite to this year’s MLS Player Combine. This year’s combined talent pool includes two MAC-Hermann finalists, 15 All-Americans, and eight participants from the College Cup Final Four.

Devon Sandoval Profile

  • 15 goals (7th in NCAA) and seven assists for 37 points (8th in NCAA) in 2012
  • Scored 26 goals and tallied 17 assists in three seasons with UNM
  • 2012 NSCAA Second Team All-American & 2012 College Soccer News Second Team All-American
  • 2012 & 2011 NSCAA First Team Far West All-Region
  • 2012 & 2011 First Team All-Conference in the MPSF
  • Four-time MPSF Player of the Week
  • Three-time TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week member
  • Leaves the program in the top ten all-time in goals and points
  • Scored three goals and two assists versus UNLV this year, which was first Lobo hat trick since ‘05

Blake Smith Profile

  • 13 assists (2nd in NCAA) and three goals in 2012
  • Scored 13 goals and registered 19 assists in New Mexico career.
  • 2012 NSCAA First Team Far West All-Region & 2011 Second Team Far West All-Region
  • 2012 & 2011 First Team All-Conference in the MPSF
  • Received MPSF Player of the Week, College Soccer News & TopDrawerSoccer National weekly honors
  • Member of academic All-MPSF, All-Region and All-District teams
  • His 13 assists in 2012 are the second most assists in a season in program history