Hairston Enters MLS Draft as Generation adidas Signee
January 03, 2014 | Men's Soccer
Jan. 3, 2014
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville men's soccer sophomore midfielder Marlon Hairston has signed a Generation adidas contract and will enter the professional ranks through the 2014 Major League Soccer SuperDraft on Jan. 16 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Players who join MLS as part of the Generation adidas program receive the opportunity to develop their game and hone their skills at the professional level. In addition to training and playing with one of Major League Soccer's 19 professional clubs, Generation adidas players receive educational grants to further their college education. Generation adidas players do not count against an MLS team's salary budget.
"I am very excited to have the opportunity to pursue a professional soccer career in the MLS and I'm ready to begin this new chapter in my life," Hairston said. "The time I spent at UofL was amazing and my teammates and coaches have helped me reach the point where I am now. Though I am leaving the University of Louisville, I will be a Cardinal forever."
Starting all 20 games for the Cardinals in both the midfield and as a forward, Hairston (Jackson, Miss.) scored three goals with two assists in 2013 while earning First Team All-American Athletic Conference honors. Named to the All-Big East Rookie team as a freshman in 2012, Hairston finished with six goals and five assists in his two seasons in Louisville.
Making its seventh straight NCAA Championship appearance, No. 18 Louisville ended its season with a 1-0 double-overtime loss at No. 11 Michigan State in the second round. The Cardinals (11-5-4) won the inaugural American Athletic Conference regular season championship with a 5-1-2 league mark. Selected as a host for the first round of the NCAA Championship, Louisville advanced past Denver with a 3-2 shootout win on Nov. 21 before the season-ending loss to the Spartans.
Fans can follow Louisville men's soccer on Twitter at http://twitter.com/uoflmenssoccer and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/UofLmenssoccer.
