New York, N.Y. — Niko Hansen and Chris Wehan, who led UNM to the Conference USA Tournament championship and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, have been selected to participate in the 2017 adidas MLS Player Combine. In all they are two of 53 of the best collegiate players in the nation invited.
Hansen and Wehan will showcase their talents in front of representatives from all 22 MLS clubs in Los Angeles, California from Jan. 8-12, 2017. All invited players will be eligible for selection in the 2017 SuperDraft presented by adidas which will take place at 1 p.m. Mountain Time on Friday, Jan. 13 at the L.A. Convention Center in conjunction with the NSCAA Convention.
A committee of MLS coaches and NCAA Division I coaches from every conference selected the invitees, all of whom completed their college eligibility this season. Further invitees including Generation adidas signings, non-collegiate players, and additional college seniors will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Lobos were one of only 15 schools to have multiple players selected for the combine.
“I am really proud and excited for Niko and Chris. Their dream for many years has been to play professionally upon completion of their education. They have been tremendous representatives of our program and University,” said head coach Jeremy Fishbein.
A three-time All-Conference USA First Team honoree and C-USA Freshman of the Year in 2013, Wehan started every game for the Lobos in 2016 and has registered 19 points on eight goals and three assists this season. He has tallied an outstanding 70 points on 31 goals and eight assists in his career to rank the 2016 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree tied for fifth in Lobo history. His 31 goals are fifth in school history as well.
Hansen’s was named First Team All-CUSA for the first time in his career after claiming second-team honors last season. He has steadily moved up the ranks throughout his career, earning a position on the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in 2013 followed by third-team honors as a sophomore. In his final campaign as a Lobo, Hansen led the league and UNM with 13 goals scored. He added three assists to lead the team with 29 total points. His game-winning goal total is also good for ninth in the nation.
Hansen was an NSCAA All-American and a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2016. He was also named College Soccer News National Player of the Week earlier this season and finished his career with 70 points on 28 goals and 14 assists while notching 11 game-winners in his career. His 70 points tied him with teammate Wehan for fifth on the all-time UNM list.
Both players will continue the strong lineage of quality student-athletes that have left their marks academically and athletically at UNM and move into the professional ranks. Fishbein has no doubts they will continue their successful ways.
“They have excelled in the classroom and in the community, so this is the icing on the cake. Very few players are invited to the MLS Player Combine. To have two seniors invited is quite an honor. I am confident that both Niko and Chris will show well and will find themselves on MLS preseason rosters come January. This is the first step towards a professional career.”