Roster Changes

[bisbee]

Anyone know whether any of the currently rostered guys will be transferring? Can't imagine all the keepers are staying. What about field players who got minimal PT last season or this Spring?

[fknbuflobo]

I am disappointed that we have yet to see Andy Chiu in a match.

[bisbee]

I am disappointed that we have yet to see Andy Chiu in a match.

Will he be back? Also what about Christian?

[RootforRoo44]

I am disappointed that we have yet to see Andy Chiu in a match.

Pretty confident in Chiu staying but I'm not quite 100%.

[yazan07]

Well, we know Mayer, Murrow, and Bonilla are out. Word on the street is Ponikvar has graduated or is graduating this Spring and even though he has a year of eligibility on the table, I think he is just going to move on. We saw McAdams play, so I have to wonder if that was Porter testing him to see what he is capable of as the #2. I haven't heard anything about Jake Fenalson, but I've heard JP is transferring, and I did see him at the game in regular clothes and not on the bench. I think if we had three keeps, Meves, #1, McAdams #2, and Pena redshirt, that would be satisfactory. I also saw Akiel and Cristian at the game in the bleachers. I know they played this Spring season, and I was wondering what was up with them watching the game from the stands. Honestly, all of those players are in my opinion pretty disposable. I think when the freshmen get here, we'll have about 13 or 14 field players who are good enough to start. Porter doesn't ever play more than 13 or 14 field players anyway, but I'd imagine he would want enough players to have two full teams.

[Zip_ME87]

Well, we know Mayer, Murrow, and Bonilla are out. Word on the street is Ponikvar has graduated or is graduating this Spring and even though he has a year of eligibility on the table, I think he is just going to move on. We saw McAdams play, so I have to wonder if that was Porter testing him to see what he is capable of as the #2. I haven't heard anything about Jake Fenalson, but I've heard JP is transferring, and I did see him at the game in regular clothes and not on the bench. I think if we had three keeps, Meves, #1, McAdams #2, and Pena redshirt, that would be satisfactory. I also saw Akiel and Cristian at the game in the bleachers. I know they played this Spring season, and I was wondering what was up with them watching the game from the stands. Honestly, all of those players are in my opinion pretty disposable. I think when the freshmen get here, we'll have about 13 or 14 field players who are good enough to start. Porter doesn't ever play more than 13 or 14 field players anyway, but I'd imagine he would want enough players to have two full teams.

Looking at the current roster, and accounting for the players you mentioned in the stands Saturday, I count 18 total field players when the freshman arrive. Derschang from SMU makes 19. I also believe that we don't yet know everyone who is coming in, but we'll see.

1. Abdul-Salaam (F)

2. Afsarifard (D)

3. Barson (D)

4. Brenes (M/D)

5. Caldwell (M)

6. Chiu (F)

7. Gallego (D)

8. Portillos (M)

9. Quinn (M)

10. Schmitt (F)

11. Stevenson (M)

12. Trapp (M)

13. Yedlin (D, F/M?)

14. Foldesy (M)

15. Koroma (F)

16. Morris (F)

17. Serna (M)

18. Souders (D)

19. Derschang (M) http://twitter.com/#!/RobbieDerschang/...387656116744192

[Zip_ME87]

Akeil Barrett to Tulsa

[yazan07]

Akeil Barrett to Tulsa

Well that explains why I saw him in the stands during the last game. Have to wonder if Cristian Arboleda is also leaving since he was in the stands with Akiel.

[bisbee]

Well that explains why I saw him in the stands during the last game. Have to wonder if Cristian Arboleda is also leaving since he was in the stands with Akiel.

No surprise that he is leaving as he has had very limited playing time and i would not have imagined he would have seen any next season. Gotta believe this is also the case for Christian.

[bisbee]

I am disappointed that we have yet to see Andy Chiu in a match.

Wonder if he does stay whether he would get any PT next season? He is another guy who I forsee would spend most of the season on the bench...why hang around?

[bobbyake]

It's unfortunate to lose some of these talented players but you have to remember that just about everyone on Akron's roster would start at 90% of the colleges in America. I wish them well.

Could you imagine an Akron JV team against other team's starters?

[bisbee]

It's unfortunate to lose some of these talented players but you have to remember that just about everyone on Akron's roster would start at 90% of the colleges in America. I wish them well.

Could you imagine an Akron JV team against other team's starters?

Totally agree.

[bisbee]

Was just looking at College Soccer News' list of the top 150 high school seniors and there is a kid named Alex Ranalli from Powell,OH who plays for the Crew who is listed as having commited to Akron. Anyone know anything about him and whether he is coming?

[Z.I.P.]

Was just looking at College Soccer News' list of the top 150 high school seniors and there is a kid named Alex Ranalli from Powell,OH who plays for the Crew who is listed as having commited to Akron. Anyone know anything about him and whether he is coming?

He plays on the same back line with the Crew Juni's as Drew Souders. Here's an article I took from MLS Soccer.whatever (it doesn't say what HS class Ranalli is in, but he's playing with Crew U-18, So I presume he's a 2012 grad.:

Chicago Fire sweeps preseason tournament

Wed, 02/29/2012 - 7:44am

The Development Academy Carolina Challenge Cup is quickly becoming a favorite for several east coast professional academies in late February.

Held in conjunction with the pro tournament of the same name, six Development Academy teams descended on Charleston, South Carolina over the weekend with an eye on the resumption of the USSF DA slate in March.

D.C. United, Chicago Fire, Indiana United Fire, South Carolina United Battery, Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls sent their respective U16 and U18 sides to contest the tournament that wrapped up on Monday night.

Kyle Dal SantoAfter three group games, the Chicago Fire emerged victorious at both age levels, going 5-0-1 in six games, outscoring their opponents 11-1 in the process. More importantly for the Fire was getting back into action after a lengthy break.

"It was a long winter for us, long grind," head coach Larry Sunderland told TopDrawerSoccer.com. "To get some games that meant something was good. We haven't played a game that has meant something since December."

Despite last playing competitively at the Winter Showcase, both Chicago's U16 and U18 teams excelled down in Charleston. Behind the play of goalkeeper Kyle Dal Santo, Louis Bennett and Marcus Epps, Chicago defeated New York, D.C. United and South Carolina Battery to claim the U16 crown.

With the variety of different teams on display, Sunderland was particularly happy for his younger charges.

"The nice thing about the tournament is that we played teams and every team played a different style, which was really good for us to see," he said. "It's one thing when we talk about the 18s, but it was really good for the 16s to see, maybe mature them a little bit, to get them to understand how they have to adapt sometimes to the course of the game and the way the opponent is playing."

Meanwhile, the Fire's U18 group clinched the title thanks to a 2-0 win on Monday over South Carolina, with Joseph Calistri's long distance goal putting the game away. Drew Conner and homegrown professional signing Kellen Gulley put in solid shifts for the victorious U18 side.

Making the achievement even more significant was the firepower at that level, including New York, Columbus and D.C. United, with the latter featuring Patrick Foss and Jalen Robinson - although stalwart Collin Martin was absent because of U.S. U20 obligations.

"Overall I think we were really pleased," D.C. U18 coach Nolan Sheldon told TopDrawerSoccer.com. "We definitely got a lot out of the three matches that each team was able to play. I would say that there were some moments throughout each of the three games where things were really, really good, maybe the best they've been all year in terms of the level of play."

The Crew used the event as a chance to bring down not just their two Development Academy sides to compete in the Challenge Cup, but to also take three of their pre-Academy teams on the road to play in friendlies against CASL Chelsea and South Carolina United.

"It was pretty special," Crew Soccer Academy Director Andrew Arthurs told TopDrawerSoccer.com. "We have a lot of interaction with our first team players and coaches here in Columbus, but that was the first time we'd been on the road with the first team. To have all of those levels in one hotel and connecting over the course of four or five days was a great experience."

According to Arthurs, Akron-bound center back Andrew Souders was one of the standouts for the U18s, as well as defender Alex Ranalli, forward Brett Elder, and midfielder Zach Mason as the Crew finished fourth place at that age level, and fifth at the U16.One of the unique features of the tournament was the chance to pit MLS Academy sides against each other, as D.C. squared off against the Fire and Crew. It's a unique element to the Development Academy that adds a bit more motivation to those sorts of games.

"We get up for them - we're definitely excited," Sheldon said. "If you're going to look at the schedule and you're going to get New York Red Bull, Fire or Crew, they definitely jump off the page a little bit more than some other teams may."

And while the Fire emerged from this particular competition on top, it's clear that every team involved in South Carolina has a lot of potential as the Development Academy season continues in full force this spring.

Final Standings

U16 W L T GF GA PTS Chicago Fire 3 0 0 6 1 9 D.C. United 1 1 1 4 3 4 Indiana Fire 1 1 1 5 5 4 SCU Battery 1 1 1 2 3 4 Columbus Crew 0 1 2 0 2 2 New York Red Bulls 0 2 1 2 5 1 U18 W L T GF GA PTS Chicgo Fire 2 0 1 5 0 7 New York Red Bulls 2 1 0 5 3 6 D.C. United 1 0 2 5 4 5 Columbus Crew 1 2 0 5 7 3 SCU Battery 1 2 0 4 3 3 Indiana Fire 0 2 1 3 7 1

[Zip_ME87]

He plays on the same back line with the Crew Juni's as Drew Souders. Here's an article I took from MLS Soccer.whatever (it doesn't say what HS class Ranalli is in, but he's playing with Crew U-18, So I presume he's a 2012 grad.:

http://academy.demosphere.com/teams/374168...0/14337803.html

[bobbyake]

6 more played added to the roster http://gozips.com/sports/msoc/2011-12/rele.../201204244k48wn

Men's Soccer Adds Six More For 2012 Season

AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron head men's soccer coach Caleb Porter announced the addition of six more players for the 2012 season Wednesday, including SMU midfield transfer Robbie Dershang.

Dershang, a 2010 Top Drawer Soccer (TDS) Freshman All-American and two-year starter, was a key contributor on a Mustangs' team that posted an overall record of 29-9-3 over two seasons while advancing to the NCAA Tournament each year, including a trip to the NCAA quarterfinals in 2010.

Prior to his time at SMU, Dershang was an NSCAA High School All-American at Cherry Creek HS and the 35th-ranked recruit in the nation, according to TDS. He was also the 5A Colorado Player of the Year as a senior after scoring 21 goals and adding eight assists and earned first team, all-state honors twice.

With a host of international experience, Dershang was named to the U.S. National team Pool at the Under-14, Under-15 and Under-17 levels and participated in the U.S. Under-17 residency program in 2008. Dershang will have two years of eligibility remaining at UA.

Joining Dershang at UA next fall will be incoming freshmen midfielder Osas Malkin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS), defender Phil Fives (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny HS), midfielder Chase Jabbori (Novi, Mich./Novi HS), midfielder Alex Ranalli (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty HS), and defender Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio/Copley HS).

These six new Zips will join UA's initial six-player signing class announced last February that was ranked No. 1 in the country.

Despite losing seven starters from its 2010 NCAA National Championship squad to the Major LeagueSoccer SuperDraft,Akron made another deep run in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Round of 16 for the fourth consecutive year before falling to eventual NCAA runner-up Charlotte. UA will return eight of 11 starters next fall.

2012 Akron Men's Soccer Signees

Robbie Dershang, Englewood, Colo., Cherry Creek, Real Colordao

Phil Fives, Pittsburgh, Pa., North Allegheny HS, Cleveland Internationals

Matt Foldesy, North Olmstead, Ohio, St. Ignatius HS, Cleveland Internationals

Chase Jabbori, Novi, Mich., Novi HS, Vardar Soccer Club

Alfred Koroma, Southlake, Texas, Southlake Carroll, Solar Chelsea

Osas Malkin, Pittsburgh, Pa., Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS, Cleveland Internationals

Omari Morris, Toronto, Ontario, Pickering HS, Toronto FC Academy

Fernando Pina, Houston, Texas, Challenge Early College HS, USSDA Houston Dynamo

Alex Ranalli, Powell, Ohio,Olentangy Liberty HS, Columbus Crew

Brad Ruhaak, Akron, Ohio, Copley HS, Penine Soccer Club

Dillon Serna, Brighton, Colo., Horizon HS, USSDA Colorado Rapids

Andrew Souders, Amherst, Ohio, Amherst Steele, USSDA Crew Academy

[bisbee]

Thanks for the link....wonder how many of the "local" guys will be gone after next season

[fknbuflobo]

Looks like a whole new team coming in. Seems like overkill to me.

I wonder who would win, that team, or our Spring team.

Oddly, freshman Saad Abdul-Salaan #25 is not mentioned at all. He showed raw talent. I wonder at his story.

[bisbee]

Looks like a whole new team coming in. Seems like overkill to me.

I wonder who would win, that team, or our Spring team.

Oddly, freshman Saad Abdul-Salaan #25 is not mentioned at all. He showed raw talent. I wonder at his story.

Yes it does seem like overkill but i suppose you can never have enough bodies and most won't get any scholarship money. Some of these guys must realize that they have a minimal chance of getting any PT but I suppose being part of such a great program outweighs that. Maybe being a Zip gives them some credibility when they look to transfer elsewhere

[bobbyake]

Yes it does seem like overkill but i suppose you can never have enough bodies and most won't get any scholarship money. Some of these guys must realize that they have a minimal chance of getting any PT but I suppose being part of such a great program outweighs that. Maybe being a Zip gives them some credibility when they look to transfer elsewhere

Considering the recruits Akron gets every year, this could possibly be the reason and a selling point. I assume the MLS (or professional soccer somewhere else) is the ultimate goal for these players. Going to Akron is better than going to a top academy and helps them prepare for their last 2-3 years at another college.

[yazan07]

Well with all of the outgoing players, the roster was looking pretty thin. The only real impact I think players leaving and these players coming in is that the team will be able to run 11 v. 11 practices. I don't expect too much from these guys who weren't on the radar and are just now showing up. Of course I wouldn't mind if they surprised me. It seems like there has been a lot of guys coming in for a year, redshirting and practicing with the team, and then moving on with four years of eligibility. I think it gives us college level players for practice, and gives them a high level of training before they go to another school. It's a mutually beneficial relationship and so I'm not complaining. Also I hope I'm not selling anyone short, that's not what I'm trying to sound like. If a local kid who came out of high school unranked can stick with Akron and work his way into the lineup, again I think that would be awesome.

[bisbee]

Well with all of the outgoing players, the roster was looking pretty thin. The only real impact I think players leaving and these players coming in is that the team will be able to run 11 v. 11 practices. I don't expect too much from these guys who weren't on the radar and are just now showing up. Of course I wouldn't mind if they surprised me. It seems like there has been a lot of guys coming in for a year, redshirting and practicing with the team, and then moving on with four years of eligibility. I think it gives us college level players for practice, and gives them a high level of training before they go to another school. It's a mutually beneficial relationship and so I'm not complaining. Also I hope I'm not selling anyone short, that's not what I'm trying to sound like. If a local kid who came out of high school unranked can stick with Akron and work his way into the lineup, again I think that would be awesome.

I totally agree with your assessment.

[fknbuflobo]

Does anyone know about Saad Abdul-Salaan #25?

How did he get to Akron in the first place, and where is he now?

Why is he not included among the twelve in the 2012 recruiting class?

[yazan07]

Roster updated

[bisbee]

Roster updated

Looking good