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January 25, 2008
Press publicizes plethora of picks
The Quakes made a pick to start off each round of the MLS Supplemental Draft yesterday, so we've got several newspapers offering up stories today.
The Mercury News went with the "local boy makes good" angle, focusing on former UC Santa Cruz forward Adam Smarte in their story. Reporter Elliott Almond also talks about the Quakes' next steps in building a team:
(The four draft picks) are expected to fill the team's developmental roster, meaning they probably won't make the 18-player team when the Quakes debut April 3 against the Los Angeles Galaxy.The Earthquakes have at least five slots to fill before the regular season; they are pursuing international players and MLS veterans. But when training camp opens Feb. 3, the collegians - including midfielder Shea Salinas, who was drafted last week - will have a chance to impress.
"If Adam Smarte or any of these players play well, they have a chance to make the team," General Manager John Doyle said. "It's all up to them."
The Merc also points out the other local players chosen in the Supplemental Draft: "former Menlo-Atherton High and Cal forward Javier Ayala-Hil (Chivas USA), USF midfielder Daniel De Geer (Galaxy) and Stanford goalie Andrew Kartunen (Kansas City Wizards)."
The Santa Cruz Sentinel spoke with Smarte himself, who is excited and gratified to have been picked.
Soccer America has a list of all the picks as well as this tidbit:
Teams are permitted to start training Saturday, though some will commence next weekend. Teams are permitted to carry 18 players on the regular roster and 10 more on a developmental squad, and by March 3 they must be roster and salary-cap compliant, with the cap number reportedly set at approximately $2.2 million, though the league has not confirmed any official figure.
Amazing to think that our new team will be taking to the field soon.
Finally, as noted first on Steven Goff's blog for the Washington Post, former Quake Junior Agogo scored the lone goal in Ghana's victory over Namibia yesterday in the African Nations Cup.
Posted by Jay at January 25, 2008 10:42 AM