Indiana University Athletics
Three Hoosiers Invited to 2012 adidas MLS Combine
12/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Dec. 7, 2011
NEW YORK - Indiana University seniors Chris Estridge, Tommy Meyer and Alec Purdie are among 52 college seniors from 31 Division I schools who have been invited to participate in the 2012 adidas Major League Soccer Player Combine. The annual player combine will be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Jan. 6-10.
The initial player list was determined by a panel of Division I college coaches, representing all conferences, who nominated and voted for players in conjunction with MLS coaches. These players will be joined by Generation adidas players, additional collegiate players from NCAA Division II and III schools, NAIA schools, and Division I alternates.
The final player list of approximately 66 players, including international invitees and Generation adidas signings, additional Combine coaches, and team assignments, will be announced at a later date.
For the eighth consecutive year, the MLS SuperDraft will be held in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention, and take place on January 12, at the Kansas City Convention Center. The first round of the SuperDraft will be broadcast live on ESPN2 beginning at noon ET.
Estridge started all 22 games this season and was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten pick. His first Big Ten honor, Estridge has helped anchor a defense that posted nine shutouts this season, while allowing just 19 goals. Always an offensive threat from his left back position, Estridge finished the 2011 season with three goals and five assists for 11 points, which ranked fourth on the team.
Meyer also started all 22 games in defense for Indiana and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors after being a second-team selection in 2010. Like Estridge, Meyer has been the backbone of the Indiana defense, with the Hoosiers posting three times as many shutouts as they did in 2010. The centerback also showed his offensive skills this year, ranking first on the team and second in the Big Ten Conference with seven assists.
Purdie was a starter in all 22 matches and was a first-team All-Big Ten honoree for the first time in his career. Purdie was a go-to scorer for the Hoosiers this season, leading the Big Ten in game-winning goals with five. His eight total goals ranked tied for fourth in the Big Ten and were a new career best for the Elkhart native.
Since the League's inception in 1996, Indiana has had 33 players selected in the MLS Draft. Most recently Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo) and Rich Balchan (Columbus Crew) were first-round picks in 2011.
MLS PLAYER COMBINE GAME SCHEDULE - TBA
All times eastern and schedule is subject to change.
2012 adidas MLS Player Combine Coaches List
**additional coaches will be announced at a later date.
Jim Barlow (Princeton); Jamie Clark (Washington); Brian Tompkins (Yale)
2012 adidas MLS Player Combine List by Position
GOALKEEPERS (4): Brian Rowe (UCLA); Chris Blais (University of South Florida); Jhojan Obando (Providence); Ryan Meara (Fordham);
DEFENDERS (16): Aaron Maund (Notre Dame); Andrew Duran (Creighton); Aubrey Perry (University of South Florida); Austin Berry (Louisville); Charles Rodriguez (UNC Charlotte); Chris Estridge (Indiana); Diogo de Almeida (SMU); Hunter Jumper (Virginia); James Kiffe (UC Santa Barbara); Justin Chavez (Tulsa); Matt Hedges (UNC); Mykell Bates (Santa Clara University); Nick Blake (UConn); Pat Sigler (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo); Shawn Singh (UCLA); Tommy Meyer (Indiana);
MIDFIELDERS (19): Alec Purdie (Indiana); Andy Rose (UCLA); Arthur Ivo (SMU); Brendan King (Notre Dame); Calum Mallace (Marquette); Christian Barreiro (UPenn); Eder Arreola (UCLA); Greg Jordan (Creighton); Kenney Walker (Louisville); Kevan George (UCF); Kirk Urso (UNC); Lance Rozenboom (New Mexico); Luis Silva (UC Santa Barbara); Michael Green (New Mexico); Miguel Ibarra (UC Irvine); Nick DeLeon (Louisville); Rafael Garcia (Cal State Northridge); Tony Walls (University of Wisconsin - Green Bay); Warren Creavalle (UCF)
FORWARDS (13): Antoine Hoppenot (Princeton); Billy Schuler (UNC); Brian Ownby (Virginia); Bryan Gaul (Bradley); Casey Townsend (Maryland); Colin Rolfe (Louisville); Ethan Finlay (Creighton); Evan James (UNC Charlotte); Evans Frimpong (Delaware); Karo Okiomah (High Point); Luckymore Mkosana (Dartmouth); Luke Holmes (Akron); Tony Cascio (UConn).
Major League Soccer contributed to this release
