[UPDATED: Final rankings]

[UPDATED: Pre-Combine ranking updates including GA]

After watching over 100 live college soccer games this year, supplemented by another 40 on TV, composed of 101 different teams, here is my assessment of the draftees seniors (and MLS acknowledged Generation Adidas underclassman). My rankings take into account the values of GA and general assessment of the skill and how each player might fit into a MLS team.

Players that I haven’t seen are generally ranked lower than players that I have seen. I’m from the East coast – so it’s easier for me to see teams in the East. However, I’ve seen UCLA, UCSB, Santa Clara, Cal and Washington live. I was unable to see some teams live, I’ve only seen on TV (e.g., Tulsa, Cal-Poly, Cal-Northridge, Memphis). The combine will supplement my prior observations and fill the gaps where needed.

UC-Irvine and UC-Davis are two teams that I regret not being able to see.

Based upon feedback that I received last year, in addition to ranking each player sequentially, I’m assigning a letter grade using the following scale:

A=Can’t miss prospect. Should easily make the roster and may get time with the first team in 2009. By the end of the year, could be an impact player.

B=Likely to make the team. Could make roster, may take a year or more to get to the first team.

C=Probably not going to make the team. Has significant barriers to overcome. A very select few may eventually make it, but it would need to be a perfect storm (multiple injuries, playing out of their heads, fortuitous bounces, etc.).

D=Extremely unlikely to make a team.

F=No shot.

Within each grade, I’ve ranked each player.

This is a work-in-progress. I will be tweaking the rankings through the combine and I as review tape.

I’m sure that I’ve missed a player. More likely, I’m sure that someone feels that I’ve unjustly ranked a player. I’d like your feedback.

Below, I’ve broken out my rankings for goal keepers. I’ll follow this with rankings of defenders, midfielders, forwards and over-all. Enjoy!

# Pos Gr See in 08? Name College Comment
1 A- Yes Stefan Frei Cal GA
3rd team CSN All-American; 1st team All-Pac10;
21/21 GP/GS, .77 GAA, 17 GA, 82 S, .828 S%;
Frei is a big keeper that reminds me of Chris Seitz. He covers the goal well and has good hands. In the 2 games that I’ve seen him play, Cal surrendered 5 goals. A good showing at the combine will go a long way. Against MD (NCAA), “Red shirt junior goal keeper Stefan Frei has a powerful punt and is a large GK. He made a huge save in the 63rd minute on a creative heel from MD left back Rodney Wallace in the box to Jason Herrick that he struck with authority toward the far post. Frei dove to get the ball cradling the ball with his massive hands. (This is the play that MD coach Cirovski feels was the turning point).” & “Hall continues to make a statement for a GA contract with his 14th goal in the 53rd minute. On the goal, he received service from Casey Townsend that he shot (Frei claims he had it covered) and was deflected (which Frei couldn’t adjust to) into the goal for the winning goal.”. In 2007 against VT, “Collier squared the ball to an open Marcus Reed at the penalty spot who fed a pass to the near side to Campbell who hit it first time. The ball got under goalkeeper Stefan Frei. A well struck shot that Frei should have stopped. The eventual game winner was Campbell’s second goal of the game in the 85th minute. While Campbell gets the credit for the goal. It was all Nyarko. Nyarko with a change of pace, he drove around Evan Sassano to get to the touch line. Nyarko centered a ball back to an open Campbell 10 yards from goal in the center of the penalty area. This time Frei had no chance.” & “Nyarko beat him Cal defender with speed. Frei came out to close the angle and Nyarko beat him to the end line but his angle was diminished and he was not able to get off a shot.”.
2 B+ Yes Milos Kocic Loyola (MD) At Combine
2nd team NSCAA AA; 1st team MAAC;
21/21 GP/GS, .660 GAA, 14 GA, 81 S, .853 S%;
2 time 1st team All-MAAC; Graduating in 3 years; After a sterling year in 2007, Kocic’s play was not as sharp. I believe that he has been battling injuries all year. Against Quinnipiac, “Something is not right with junior goal keeper Milos Kocic. This was the worse game that I’ve seen him play (I wrote this at HT – and it still holds after the game). While he had some good moments in the second half making several diving stops and a critical tip, he is not the same player that he was earlier this year and last year. At HT, I commented that his best soccer attribute is his Serbian accent – i.e., at least he sounds like he might have an idea how to play. In retrospect, I think he may be suffering a minor leg or abdominal injury – something is wrong. “. Against Mount Saint Mary’s, “Kocic wasn’t sharp. His distribution was shaky. He was physically punished by George Washington and William & Mary. Even his goal kicks were only just getting to midfield.”. Against Campbell, “Kocic did nothing to change my already high opinion of him. He makes good decisions and he has good hands and feet. The defense makes Kocic look good by only letting easy balls get to him rather than setting him up to make numerous brilliant saves. I don’t consider this criticism, but more of the reality of the Loyola success.”. In 2007, against Liberty in the NCAA, “The difference between the two teams was sophomore goal keeper Milos Kocic. The 22 year old Serbian is one of the best goal keepers in college. He moves and positions himself extremely well. After OSU’s Casey Latchem, he may be the best shot blocker.” & “Kocic made some unbelievable stops. MOTM – easily.”. Against Fairfield, “He ranges well; commands his box; and has sure hands. He’s pretty good but it was hard to assess given the lackluster Fairfield attack. I like Kocic, though.”.
3 B Yes Zack Simmons Massachusetts 2nd team CSN AA; 1st team Atlantic 10;
21/21 GP/GS, .81 GAA, 18 GA, 84 S, .824 S%;
Break-out season in 2007, 3rd team All-American; 2 time 1st team All-A10; 4 year starter; Against Charlotte, “Aaron Kepler had a chance to tie the game in the 89th minute dribbling past the central defense but was stopped by UMass GK Zack Simmons – big save. “. Against SLU, “Simmons kept UMass in the game with a reflex save from a 1v1 shot from Patterson. On the build-up, SLU was able to break down the defense with quick passes starting with Ream to Barlage toe poking the ball forward to Hamzagic who dribbled to unbalance the defense before laying the ball off for Patterson wide – but open. Simmons makes good decisions and is a good shot blocker.”. Against William & Mary, “Simmons continues to show why he’s an All-American. He’s sure in the back and if given sufficient defensive support, he’ll make the plays.”.
4 C+ No Steward Ceus Albany At Combine
3rd team NSCAA AA; 1st team American East;
14/12 GP/GS, .96 GAA, 14 GA, 83 S, 856 S%;
4 year starter;
5 C Yes Chris Brown Boston College Not at Combine;
1st team ACC;
20/20 GP/GS, .96 GAA, 20 GA, 38 S, .655 S%;
Missed 2004 and 2005 with knee injuries; has played the last 2 1/2 years injury free. Against MD in the ACC tournament, “”Brown made several big stops to keep the game scoreless. In the first half, Graham Zusi dribbled into the box followed with a shot to the far post that Brown deflected to a dangerous area in the middle of his box. Jason Herrick picked up the rebound and cranked a shot that Brown had to make a huge stop that looked inevitable to be the first goal. Both Casey Townsend and Jason Herrick had many chances but were unable to get the ball past Brown.
After threatening for most of the game, MD finally got on the board from a BC own goal in the 78th minute. Herrick drove into the box, faked a shot that got his defender off-balance and fired a shot low and hard that Brown made a good save to block. On the deflection it hit Chin who was retreating to cover and it rolled in the goal.”"
6 C Yes Brian Visser DePaul 2nd team Big East;
20/20 GP/GS, .62 GAA, 13 GA, 67 S, .837 S%;
Against UConn, “The MOTM was senior goal keeper Brian Visser. He made several critical stops including a heel flick by Robert Brickey in the waning seconds of the game.” & “In the first half, the best goal scoring opportunity for UConn came from senior right back Mike Pezza 30 yard free kick that found high flying junior central back Kwame Watson-Siriboe’s head 10 yards from goal. Sure-handed Depaul goal keeper Brian Visser was able to scoop up the powerful header.” Against Gtown, “MOTM for Depaul is senior goal keeper Brian Visser. He made countless key saves to keep this game close.” & “C’deBaca was aggressive (demanding the ball) and then doing something productive with it. His crosses would have been assists if not for a huge effort by Visser.”. In 2007, against Cincinnati, he was able to keep them off the board.
7 C Yes Drew Healy Pennsylvania 2nd team Ivy;
18/18 GP/GS, .63 GAA, 12 GA, 67 S, .848 S%;
After sitting behind NYRB GK, Danny Ceparo for several years, had a break-out season in 2008; no comment against Brown; Against Penn State, “Healy didn’t have much to do so it was difficult to assess his potential. He wears goggles to protect him from an injury that he suffered last year. His punting wasn’t terribly impressive.”.
8 C TV Tyrel Lacey Tulsa 1st team Conference USA;
22 GP, .63 GAA, 14 GA, 77 S, .846 S%;
Starter in senior year only after previous GK, Dominic Cervi graduated.
9 C TV Kevin Guppy Cal State Northridge 1st team Big West & BW GK POTY;
19/19 GP/GS, 1.12 GAA, 23 GA, 83 S, .783 S%;
2 time 1st team All-Big West; 2007 2nd team All-Big West; 2006 2nd team honorable mention; 4 year starter; On TV against Creighton, gave up the lone goal on a “bogus” PK. In 1st half closed the angle on Dacy open in the box on the far post – shot wide. Slow reactions to shot outside of the box limits his ability to cover corners while moving horizontally. Good hands when the ball is within his reach.
10 C Yes Chay Cain Indiana

24/24 GP/GS, .97 GAA, 24 GA, 65 S, .733 S%;
2007 1st team All-Big 10; 3 year starter; Not the worse GK, but I see a lot of college soccer. Against OSU, “A 40 yard free kick was sent in and sophomore Konrad Warzycha headed the ball from 10 yards in a mass of IU defenders with the IU goal keeper, Chay Cain coming out and not getting enough on the ball. The header was bouncing into the goal until Sarkodie arrived to save the day.”. Against Akron, “I don’t like Chay Cain’s hands. He drops too many balls for me. He did make a nice reaction save from Dagilis header off a corner kick.”. In 2007, against MD, “Cain was inconsistent.”.
11 C Yes Cory Robertson Drexel

16/16 GP/GS, 1.48 GAA, 26 GA, 81 S, .757 S%;
2007 3rd team all-CAA; 3 year starter; His stats in 2007 were significantly better – 15g, .54GAA, 8GA, I wonder what changed? Against UMBC, “Robertson made a few key saves in the first half. He continues to show why he is a quality goal keeper. He has a big body and distributes the ball very well. A minor thing, but something that I really like is his leadership. On a very hot day, during an injury time-out, he brought water to his team mates allowing them to conserve energy while still hydrating. Smart move. Take care of the troops, so they can take care of you.”. In 2007, against ODU, “Robertson has very sure hands and made the critical stops when needed. He is someone that should be watched next year.”.
12 C Yes Steve Clark Oakland 1st team Summit & Def POTY;
19/19 GP/GS, .54 GAA, 10 GA, 55 S, .846 S%;
2 time 1st team All-Summit; 3 year starter; Against IUPUI, no comment – not really challenged; against Bucknell (spring), Conor O’Brien scored both goals. The first was a “Wow!” moment. He took a long pass from Meisel into the corner. From this acute angle, he chipped Oakland GK (Steve Clark) into the side netting from 6 yards from touch and 20 yards from the near post! Terrific goal.”. Clark is a vocal GK, but he doesn’t seem embraced by his team. While he appears to want to be a leader, he doesn’t have the emotional make-up. For example, while his team played Towson (in the spring), he seemed more concerned with his stretching than cheering on his team.
13 C Yes Pat Disbennett St. Louis 2nd team Atlantic 10;
22/22 GP/GS, .79 GAA, 18 GA, 75 S, .806 S%;
Suffered injuries ending his last two seasons prematurely before going injury-free in his senior year; Much better GK options. Against UMass, “Disbennett called for the ball and came out and didn’t get it – it went for a goal”. Against LaSalle, “Disbennet doesn’t look good in the back. His foot skills are horrific. Right back Tim Ream gave him a pass that he kicked down the middle of the field on the ground.” & “Disbennet can’t be the best that SLU has – he’s a disaster and entirely too tentative.”.
14 C No Matthew Jones Sacred Heart 1st team Northeastern;
17/17 GP/GS, 1.08 GAA, 19 GA, 66 S, .776 S%;
2 time 1st team All-NEC; 2005 2nd team All-NEC; 4 year starter;
15 C TV Eric Branagan-Franco Cal Poly 1st team Big West & BW GK POTY;
23/23 GP/GS, .94 GAA, 23 GA, 105 S, .820 S%;
3 year starter; Against UCSB (TV), solid but not spectacular. Wide GK, but average size (small for a GK).
16 D+ Yes Evan Bush Akron At Combine
1st team MAC;
23/23 GP/GS, .46 GAA, 11 GA, 60 S, .845 S%;
1st team All MAC for the 3rd time in his career. Against ND early in the first game of the year, “Bush flails at high balls. In the first half, he didn’t control his box allowing ND to camp in their box for easy headers from 6 first half corner kicks. The best shots for ND were long hopeful cross/shots that hit the crossbar with Bush relegated to having to hope that the shots wouldn’t fall.” Against IU in the second game, I didn’t record anything about his play. In 2007, against UNC “Shriver produced a brilliant cross to Ababio who had gotten forward. Evan Bush, Akron GK, made a tremendous reflex save giving up the corner. On the ensuing corner kick, Ababio contested the corner and it bounced to an unmarked Joan Carvajal 30 yards from goal. He hit Garry Lewis’s head who was 6 yards from goal and Bush had no shot to save it.” and against WF “Bush had a steady game. Looking back at the stats, I don’t think that they’re correct. I thought there were 12-15 shots in the game. Nevertheless, Bush was solid in the goal even in a game where 3 goals were scored against Akron.”.
17 D Yes Alec Dufty Evansville At Combine

16/16 GP/GS, 1.45 GAA, 24 GA, 64 S, .727 S%;
4 year starter with a consistently high GAA (this is his best year 1.45); against MD – did not make the trip. UE did not divulge why.
18 D Yes Andrew Dykstra VCU 2nd team CAA;
18/18 GP/GS, .97 GAA, 18 GA, 70 S, .795 S%;
4 year starter; Against UNCW, “In the 80th minute, freshman reserve forward Shawn Guderian was able to get behind the VCU defense with a well timed run, but senior GK Andrew Dykstra was able to hold him off without a Guderian shot.”. Against UVA, “UVA had some opportunities but were stopped by a superior performance by VCU GK Andrew Dykstra.” & “Tchani made a pass to junior Jonathan Villanueva that would have been a goal if not for a great save by senior goal keeper Andrew Dykstra. Tchani freed Agorsor in the 29th minute that Dykstra took off Agorsor’s foot.” & “UVA almost got on the board in the first 10 minutes from a 35 yard free kick from senior DM Matt Poole forcing Dykstra to deflect the shot away from the goal. Villanueva gathered the rebound and hit the post for a goal kick.” & “LaBauex took a shot that should have been finished if not for a note-worthy save by Dykstra.”. Against Gtown (spring), “Dykstra made a ton of saves but needs to limit rebounds by catching the ball cleanly. Relying on punching the ball away, only delays the punishment rather than ending the attack. He needs to improve his hands. He drops the ball too much – perhaps that is why he’s so content punching. He has gotten bigger and thicker and is starting to have a GK body. Now, he just needs to get the hands.” & “Otegbeye had the best cross of the day overlapping C’deBaca in the first half and receiving a perfect pass from him that he sent back to the penalty spot. Grasso crushed it at the goal that was denied by a Dykstra reflex save. Larrabee hit the rebound with a first touch that was blocked by a defender with a final rebound shot from C’deBaca on his left foot for a corner kick. This type of flurry was a regular occurrence, today. Unfortunately for Gtown, so was the lack of finishing.”. In 2007, against William & Mary, “Dykstra had a very quiet evening. He can’t be faulted for the lone goal on just 1 of 3 shots!”. Against MD (exhibition), “Dykstra (looks like he worked out in the off-season – last year he looked skinny. He’s much more solid).”.
19 D Yes Neal Kitson St John’s At Combine
3rd team Big East;
23/23 GP/GS, .47 GAA, 11 GA, 86 S, .887 S%;
Transferred after freshman year where he won D3 championship with Dowling; Only started for SJU as senior; Can count on him to make at least 1 big save every game; no comment against Rutgers; Against UConn, “Kitson was steady. The CT goal was more reflective of poor defending than a mistake by Kitson. He’s pretty good. I need a few more times to get a better assessment.” & “Cascio dribbled 50 yards shooting from the top of the box and blasted a shot that Kitson was able to stop.”. In 2007, against Virginia Tech, “with 4 minutes remaining Hooper picked up bad clearance by SJU GK, Neal Kitson, shooting with his first touch from 35 yds. The shot was too high. Hooper seemed more comfortable later in the game. Freshman nerves – maybe.”.
20 D No David Cappuccio Colgate 1st team Patriot;
17/17 GP/GS, .81 GAA, 14 GA, 73 S, .839 S%;
2 time 1st team All-Patriot; 2006 Honorable mention All-Patriot; 2.5 year starter; Against Temple (spring), “Cappuccio is too “immobile”. He’s a liability in the back when he needs to save the Colgate defense.”
21 D No Joe Zimka NIU

21/21 GP/GS, .980 GAA, 22 GA, 63 S, .741 S%;
2006 2nd team All-MAC; NCAA record year in 2006 with a .26 GAA; 2006 is anomalous. In 2007 and 2008, his GAA is 1.22 and .98. 3 year starter;
22 D TV Sean Milligan Dartmouth At Combine
1st team Ivy;
19/19 GP/GS, 1.130 GAA, 22 GA, 67 S, .753 S%;
2 time 1st team All-Ivy; 2 year starter; On TV, against Brown, hard to say at 6′5″ not a dominating presence, but didn’t own his box. Also, question his goal line foot work because was unable to get across the box on a hooking cross. He’ll need to have a big combine.
23 D Yes Patrick Mitrovich Winthrop 1st team Big South;
22 GP, 1.11 GAA, 24 GA, 86 S, .782 S%;
3 time 1st team All-Big South; against William & Mary, “McAdams made the big plays – Winthrop GK Patrick Mitrovich did not.” & “Bothe sent the free kick into the box. With the wind holding it up, Winthrop GK Parkick Mitrovich called for the ball and came out but did not get to it. Instead, Koger heard Mitrovich call for it and knew he’d be off his line and flicked it on and into the goal from the penalty mark.”. No comment against VMI, Charleston (spring) and UNCW (spring). In 2007, against High Point, Mitrovich is steady in the back and tries to transition very quickly rather than holding the ball long. He made a terrific save at the end of the game to preserve the shut out. He’s a good keeper from NC. He wasn’t challenged sufficiently to assess his compatibility for MLS duty. I tend to doubt it given the competition for GK positions.
24 D No Filipe Carvalho Georgia State 1st team CAA;
18/18 GP/GS, 1.58 GAA, 30 GA, 79 S, .725 S%;
4 year starter;
25 D No Kelin Briones San Diego 1st team WCC;
17/17 GP/GS, 1.27 GAA, 22 GA, 62 S, .738 S%;
2 year starter;
26 D- Yes Aaron Johnson Campbell 1st team Atlantic Sun;
20/20 GP/GS, .990 GAA, 20 GA, 71 S, .780 S%;
3 time 1st team all-Atlantic Sun; Against Jacksonville in Atlantic Sun finals, “”Johnson didn’t make a mistake on the goals, but he didn’t make the big play to stop the goals either.”. As a whole didn’t impress me with his play. Against Loyola (MD) – not notable.
27 D- No Jeremy Coupe San Francisco honorable mention WCC;
14/14 GP/GS, .80 GAA, 12 GA, 37 S, .755 S%;
2 year starter at Cal Poly, injured in 2007 at USF;
28 D- Yes Jarrett Leech Brown honorable mention Ivy;
10/9 GP/GS, .870 GAA, 8 GA, 24 S, .750 S%;
Split time in 2008. DNP against Penn. In 2007, against Rutgers, “Leech is a accident waiting to happen. His hands are a liability. Brown’s upperclassmen (2 seniors and 2 juniors) defense with junior defensive midfield must protect Leech from unnecessary pressure. I expect that a team in the NCAA tournament will expose Leech.”. On TV, against Dartmouth, comes on late in 2nd half, even with limited minutes, unsuccessful punch (on the ball) on a break-away that was called back on off side.
29 D- No Roger Scully Vermont 2nd team American East;
20/19 GP/GS, .71 GAA, 15 GA, 70 S, 824 S%;
2 time 2nd team All-American East; 3 year starter;
30 F No Kyle Boerner Elon 1st team Southern Conference;
14/12 GP/GS, 1.59 GAA, 20 GA, 47 S, .701 S%;
Started as a senior;
31 F No Ryan Sutherland NJIT 2nd team Atlantic Soccer;
12/11 GP/GS, 1.55 GAA, 19 GA, 59 S, .756 S%;
Started as a senior;

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)