LEXINGTON ? Kentucky standout goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum has been chosen as one of 54 college seniors to participate in the 2006 adidas Major League Soccer Player Combine this winter.
For the third straight year, the MLS will put on the combine at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. This year?s event takes place from Jan. 12-15.
Gruenebaum, who was chosen as a first-team All-Conference USA goalkeeper, is one of four goalies selected. He is the second Wildcat in as many years to take part in the combine, joining former UK All-American Jamal Shteiwi. This past year, Gruenebaum led Conference USA with a 1.04 goals against average while posting five shutouts.
Over the summer, Gruenebaum competed for the Des Moines Menace of the Premier Development League and led them to the PDL National Championship, being named the MVP of the title game. He also helped the menace to the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The coaching staffs and general managers from all 12 MLS teams will be in attendance to scout talent at the 2006 adidas MLS Player Combine, which concludes five days before the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. The 2006 MLS SuperDraft will be held on Friday, January 20, 2006 in Philadelphia, Pa. in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Of the 48 players selected in the four rounds of the 2005 MLS SuperDraft, 39 had participated in the 2005 adidas Player Combine, including New England Revolution draftee Michael Parkhurst, a Generation adidas player and Major League Soccer?s 2005 Gatorade Rookie of the Year .
The initial list of players for the 2006 adidas Player Combine was determined by a select panel of Division I college coaches representing all conferences, who nominated and voted for players in conjunction with MLS coaches. Youth players from the Generation adidas program will join additional collegiate players from NCAA Division II and III schools, NAIA schools and Division I alternates to finalize the 2006 adidas Player Combine. These players will be announced in the near future.
The 2006 adidas MLS Player Combine will separate all players into four teams and feature doubleheaders at The Home Depot Center on the mornings of January 13, 14 and 15. Players will arrive on January 12 and participate in organizational training sessions that same afternoon at The Home Depot Center. The Torrance Marriott will serve as the official headquarters of the adidas MLS Player Combine and the host hotel for players and coaching staffs.
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GOALKEEPERS (4): Ray Burse (The Ohio State University); Eric Kronberg (University of California); Chris Dunsheath (Bradley University); Andy Gruenbaum (University of Kentucky);
DEFENDERS (15): Kenny Bertz (University of Maryland); Chris Lancos (University of Maryland); Daniel Wasson (University of Tulsa); Kyle Veris (The Ohio State University); Tyson Wahl (University of California); Trevor McEachron (Old Dominion University); Jeff Curtin (Georgetown University); Cory Farabi (Drake University); Justin Moore (Clemson University); Anthony Noriega (George Mason University); John Queeley (North Carolina State University); Danny Wynn (St. Louis University); Jordan Harvey (University of California ? Los Angeles); Willis Forko (University of Connecticut); Stephen Shirley (Virginia Commonwealth University).
MIDFIELDERS (17): Josh Alcala (University of South Carolina); Brian Plotkin (Indiana University); Blake Camp (Duke University); Danny Kramer (Duke University); Jeff Carroll (St. John?s University); Mike Chabala (University of Washington); David Chun (Southern Methodist University); Brian Devlin (Penn State University); David Walters (Penn St. University); Yohann Mauger (University of Akron); Dan Paladini (California State University, Northridge); Matt Wieland (Creighton University); Lance Watson (University of New Mexico); Jorge Flor (Oral Roberts University); Darren Spicer (Princeton University); Mpho Moloi (University of Connecticut); Justin Moose (Wake Forest University).
FORWARDS (18): Mike Ambersley (Indiana University); Jason Garey (University of Maryland); Kyle Brown (University of Tulsa); Calen Carr (University of California); Matt Groenwald (St. John?s University); Duke Hashimoto (Southern Methodist University); Brian Civilikas (Old Dominion University); Tony Donatelli (Temple University); Ross McKenzie (University of Akron); Omar Jarun (University of Dayton); Jimmy Klatter (Eastern Illinois University); Aaron King (North Carolina State University); Karim Dietz (Birmingham-Southern College); Jeff Rowland (University of New Mexico); David Leung (Oral Roberts University); Ryan Johnson (Oregon State University); Kelechi Igwe (Santa Clara University); Dominic Oduro (Virginia Commonwealth University).
