I'll be the first to acknowledge that I'm not the biggest fan of college soccer . . . but I'm also
willing to admit that Akron is one classy college soccer organization. On the eve of making history
in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, the school honored their Championship team:
If you don't fully understand the ins and outs of the MLS SuperDraft, don't worry. It is not a
sign of stupidity. I hear Stephen Hawking is struggling to understand it.
Few can understand the craziness and fluctuating criteria which make up the behind the scenes
world of bringing an American football style draft to the world of soccer.
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As most of you know, the MLS Superdraft will take place on January 13th, 2011 in Baltimore.
ASN Philly has an interview with potential top five pick in this year's SuperDraft Zarek
Valentin.
Zarek Valentin leaves the Akron Zips as a 19-year old NCAA Champion with boundless potential and
a near future, at least, that lies in Major League Soccer. The Lancaster, PA native has left
quite the footprint in only two seasons, one that has been duplicated on the international level
with Thomas Rongen's U-20s as well.
Major League Soccer's annual draft unfolds tomorrow. There will be game changers taken early who
will meet expectations, there will be a few busts to giggle about and there will surely be solid
role players aplenty plucked from the college and amateur ranks. Nothing new there.
But something is likely to happen tomorrow that is unprecedented in MLS draft history.
Next time you find yourself in Ohio searching for the best soccer action the Buckeye State has
to offer, skip Crew Stadium and drive the 121 miles northeast to Lee Jackson Field, where the
Akron Zips are fast becoming the pride of American college soccer. Following up his side's
heart-breaking penalty shoot-out loss in the 2009 national championship to Wake Forest, Coach Caleb
Porter led this year's edition of the Zips to the promised land, knocking off number one seeded
Louisville 1-0 to claim this year's crown, the first D1 national championship in the school's
history.
ASN Philly has an interview with potential top five pick in this year's SuperDraft Zarek
Valentin.
Zarek Valentin leaves the Akron Zips as a 19-year old NCAA Champion with boundless potential and
a near future, at least, that lies in Major League Soccer. The Lancaster, PA native has left
quite the footprint in only two seasons, one that has been duplicated on the international level
with Thomas Rongen's U-20s as well.
The Draft isn't even an hour old and it's already a tremendous success for our beloved boys in
naranja.
The Houston Dynamo selected fullback Kofi Sarkodie (5' 9", 155lbs) with the 7th pick in the 2011
MLS SuperDraft. Sarkodie was part of the Akron Zips National Championship team this year and was
easily the best fullback available in the draft.