Three Cardinals Invited to MLS Combine
December 14, 2009 | Men's Soccer
Dec. 14, 2009
Louisville, Ky. - Three Cardinal seniors are among the list of 62 players invited to the 2010 adidas MLS Player Combine. Louisville is one of four schools with three or more players invited. Midfielders Freddie Braun and Othaniel Yanez along with defender Phil Edginton were invited to participate in the combine held on Jan. 8-12, 2010, at Central Broward Regional Park in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The coaching and management of all 16 MLS teams will be present to scout the enormous talent in preparation for the 2010 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 14, 2010.
Braun was a captain his senior year, helping guide Louisville to their most successful season in school history. He finished his senior year second on the team in scoring with eight goals and four assists for 20 points. Braun was also second on the team in game-winners with two on the season. He earned all-tournament honors at the UK Invitational this season. He has been a starter in the Cardinal's midfield the last four seasons, finishing his career with 11 goals and five assists.
Yanez has been the team MVP in two of his four seasons with the Cardinals. He earned BIG EAST All-Tournament honors this season. Yanez also earned all-tournament honors at the UK Invitational and the Cardinal Classic. He finished his senior season with one goal for two points. He finished his career with five goals four assists and three game-winners, while anchoring the Cardinal midfield. He earned All-BIG EAST honors his sophomore season and was named the U of L Sophomore of the Year as well.
Edginton was named a second team NSCAA All-American. Edginton was named BIG EAST Co-Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a unanimous selection to the 2009 All-BIG EAST First Team. Edginton and the Cardinal defense have posted 13 shutouts through 20 games and allowed only 12 goals. Offensively, Edginton has six points on two goals and two assists. Named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week three times (Sept. 21, Oct. 12 & Oct. 26), Edginton was also a two-time weekly honor roll selection (Sept. 14 & Oct. 5). He was recently named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Year.
The initial player list 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 2010 adidas MLS Player Combine. The final player list and team assignments will be announced in the coming weeks. The 2010 adidas MLS Player Combine will separate all players into four teams and feature two games per day at Central Brower Regional Park on Jan. 9, 10 and 12.
Each team will be led by an experienced Division I coach who will be assisted by an experienced soccer professional. Davidson University Head Coach, Matthew Spear has been selected to coach Team Predator X, along with Executive Director of the South Charlotte Soccer Association Brad Wylde. Michael Noonan, head coach at Brown University will coach Team Condivo along with Leigh Cowlishaw, head coach of the Richmond Kickers of USL-2. University of California - Los Angeles Head Coach Jorge Salcedo will lead Team Jabulani along with Placer United Soccer Club Coach Nathan Williams. Todd Yeagley, head coach at the University of Wisconsin will lead Team F50i along with Larry Sunderland, Director of Player Personnel for the Chicago Fire.
The MLS Super Draft will be held on Jan. 15 in St. Louis, Mo.
