University of Connecticut Athletics
Forko, Moloi Chosen For MLS Combine
12/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
NEW YORK (December 1, 2005) - Seniors Willis Forko (Houston, Texas) and Mpho Moloi (Soweto, South Africa) of the two-time BIG EAST champion University of Connecticut men’s soccer team have been selected to participate in the 2006 adidas Major League Soccer (MLS) Player Combine, as announced by the league office this week. A total of 54 of the top collegiate prospects for the 2006 MLS SuperDraft will compete in the combine at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California from January 12-15, 2006.
Forko joined the UConn soccer team in 2003 after playing one year at South Carolina. Since arriving in Storrs, he has started in all 65 games for the Huskies and has averaged 90 minutes per game in 2005. In his final season with the Huskies, the senior back was chosen as a Third Team All-BIG EAST selection after leading the Husky defense that allowed just 12 goals on the season and posted 13 shutouts. As a junior, he was named third-team All-BIG EAST, as well as second team All-New England. In 2003, he was placed on the UConn/adidas All-Tournament team as a sophomore. He tallied a total of three goals and 15 assists over the last three seasons, including six assists in 2005 alone.
A 2005 MAC Hermann Trophy Candidate, Moloi has captained the Huskies each of the last three seasons. The senior midfielder brought home UConn’s third BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year honor under Head Coach Ray Reid, en route to guiding the Huskies to the third round of the NCAA Tournament this season. He is a three-time All-BIG EAST selection and All-New England honoree and has led the defensive midfield since entering the starting line-up prior to the NCAA Tournament his freshman year. After starting 70 consecutive games, Moloi averaged 89 minutes per game with two assists to his credit in his final year with the Huskies. He was honored as the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week once in 2005, while helping lead UConn’s defense to a 0.56 goals against average and 13 shutouts this season.
This year's initial list of combine participants was selected by a panel of Division I coaches representing all conferences. The college coaches nominated and voted for players in conjunction with MLS coaches. Three BIG EAST schools are represented, with players from Georgetown and St. John’s also making the cut. At the combine, the players will be separated into four teams and will play in doubleheaders Jan. 13-15 at The Home Depot Center
The coaching staffs and general managers of all 12 MLS teams will attend the combine to scout talent before making their SuperDraft selections at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia on Friday, Jan. 20. Of the 48 players chosen in last year's draft, 39 had participated in the combine the week before.
ADIDAS MLS PLAYER COMBINE LIST BY SCHOOL
* Finalists for 2005 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy
University of Akron
M Yohann Mauger
F Ross McKenzie
Birmingham-Southern College
F Karim Dietz
Bradley University
GK Chris Dunsheath
California State University, Northridge
M Dan Paladini
University of California (Cal-Berkeley)
F Calen Carr
GK Eric Kronberg
D Tyson Wahl
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
D Jordan Harvey
Clemson University
D Justin Moore
University of Connecticut
D Willis Forko
M Mpho Moloi
Creighton University
M Matt Wieland
University of Dayton
F Omar Jarun
Drake University
D Cory Farabi
Duke University
M Blake Camp
M Danny Kramer
Eastern Illinois University
F Jimmy Klatter
George Mason University
D Anthony Noriega
Georgetown University
D Jeff Curtin
Indiana University
F Mike Ambersley
*M Brian Plotkin
University of Kentucky
GK Andy Gruenbaum
University of Maryland
D Kenny Bertz
*F Jason Garey
D Chris Lancos
University of New Mexico
*F Jeff Rowland
M Lance Watson
North Carolina State University
*F Aaron King
D John Queeley
The Ohio State University
GK Ray Burse
D Kyle Veris
Old Dominion University
F Brian Civilikas
D Trevor McEachron
Oral Roberts University
M Jorge Flor
F David Leung
Oregon State University
F Ryan Johnson
Penn State University
M Brian Devlin
M David Walters
Princeton University
M Darren Spicer
Santa Clara University
F Kelechi Igwe
Southern Methodist University
M David Chun
F Duke Hashimoto
St. John's University
M Jeff Carroll
*F Matt Groenwald
St. Louis University
D Danny Wynn
University of South Carolina
M Josh Alcala
Temple University
F Tony Donatelli
University of Tulsa
F Kyle Brown
D Daniel Wasson
Virginia Commonwealth University
D Stephen Shirley
F Dominic Oduro
Wake Forest University
*M Justin Moose
University of Washington
M Mike Chabala
