Sunday, May 4, 2008

St. John's Soccer Athletes in the Pros?

The St. John's men's soccer team has been a strong club in Division 1. Here is a list taken from the St. John's Red Storm Athletic website of SJU soccer alumni that are currently playing in the pros.
Jeff Carroll, DC United (Major League Soccer)
Jeff Carroll was one of three Red Storm players selected in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft, going with the 39th overall pick to DC United. He joined brother, Brian, in the organization and spent most of the 2006 season in the developmental league. Carroll did see time with the parent club during the season, playing in two games, making one start and logging a total of 101 minutes. A key member of the United reserve team, Carroll led the team in minutes played, starting all but one game and chalking up a goal and two assists in the process.
Bill Gaudette, Columbus Crew (MLS)
Bill Gaudette was one of four Crew goalkeepers to miss time with injury throughout the 2006 season, but bounced back and made 11 starts in goal. The 2004 St. John's graduate posted a 3-5-3 overall record and three shutouts in 990 minutes of action. Gaudette was taken in the first round of the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft and went on to appear in six games and make five starts for the Columbus Crew that season. He made his MLS debut against the LA Galaxy on May 25, 2005 and finished the second half of a shutout. Days later, Gaudette made the first of his 16 career starts, against the New York-New Jersey MetroStars.
Matt Groenwald, Kansas City Wizards (MLS)
Matt Groenwald and the Kansas City Wizards finished with a 10-14-8 overall record in the 2006 season, and the MLS rookie Groenwald played in 19 games and started 16. Groenwald shifted from a collegiate midfielder immediately into a starting MLS defender and logged heavy minutes in his first season. The Mt. Prospect, Ill., native recorded two assists, one game-winning assist and one shot and averaged over 60 minutes of action per game. Groenwald was selected by Kansas City in the third round (28th overall pick) of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft and made his season debut on April 1. 2006.
Shalrie Joseph, New England Revolution (MLS)
Shalrie Joseph has continued his strong play with the New England Revolution, scoring three goals and recording one assist in the team's run to the MLS Cup finals. Joseph was a first round selection of the New England Revolution in 2002 and joined the Revs in 2003 after a year overseas. He started 15 games that season, leading the Revs to the MLS Finals and earning the first of two All-Star selections. In the 2005 season, Joseph received serious consideration for MLS Most Valuable Player honors after scoring six goals and recording five assists for a total of 17 points.
Stefani Miglioranzi, Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
Miglioranzi was a midseason sign by the Galaxy and played in three games during his short stint. A third-round draft choice of Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire in 1999, Miglioranzi played the next four-plus seasons overseas, before signing a contract with L.A. and returning to the U.S. He originally signed a month-by-month contract with Portsmouth of the English First Division and then earned a long-term deal with Swindon Town FC of the Second Division after a successful run at Portsmouth. Miglioranzi played four seasons at Swindon and scored eight goals, despite injuries leading to inconsistent playing time.
Dan Popik, Columbus Crew (MLS)
Dan Popik was picked up by the Columbus Crew after the team's top four goalkeepers, including Bill Gaudette, went down with injuries. Currently an assistant coach at North Carolina State, Popik started in one game and made seven saves for the Crew. A member of the St. John's 1998 and 1999 teams, Popik spent parts of the 2003 and 2004 season with the Los Angeles Galaxy and played in 2002 with the A-League champion Milwaukee Rampage.
Chris Wingert, Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Chris Wingert, the 2003 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy winner as the nation�s top collegiate player, joined Colorado for the 2006 season after playing two seasons for the Columbus Crew. Wingert played some crucial minutes late in the season and started as a defender in the Rapids' run to the MLS Western Conference Finals in early November. For the year, Wingert played in 10 games, made four starts and saw 446 minutes of action. The Crew originally drafted Wingert in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft, and the Babylon, N.Y., native spent two seasons in Columbus as a starting defender.

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