2012 MLS Combine Day 1 Recap

Published: 7th Jan 12 1:12 pm
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by Chris Ransom
New England Patriots and Dallas Stars Featured Columnist

Game 1 adiPower VS Prime

Game Preview adiPower VS Prime

The first scrimmage game featured adiPower VS Prime.  Heading into the first scrimmage game there were a few match ups I wanted to examine closer before the game began.

Chandler Hoffman and Casey Townsend were expected to start at forward for adiPower.  I have scouted both Hoffman and Townsend  Lucky Mkosana of Dartmouth is one of the top Ivy League prospects.  I wanted to see what Mkosana could do as a reserve player in this contest since I have already done write ups on Hoffman and Townsend.

I already have seen what Kelyn Rowe and Luis Silva can do.  Calum Mallace of Marquette is being considered a late first round prospect.

How can players like Mkosana and Mallace fare against Prime’s defense?  Prime’s defense features Indiana center back Tommy Meyer, North Carolina defensive midfielder Kirk Urso, California Northridge defensive midfielder Rafael Garcia, RJ Allen a defensive midfielder with versatility to play fullback as an outside back, and Chris Estridge an Indiana left back with the versatility to play right back.

This is a very underrated Prime defense.  I have loved what I have seen on tape with UCLA generation Adidas players like Chandler Hoffman and Kelyn Rowe.  If Hoffman and Rowe perform well against this defense then both UCLA Bruins have a shot of going in the top 5 overall.

Prime’s offense solely relies on Akron striker Darren Mattocks.  Mattocks looks like a clear cut favorite to be the top pick.  Princeton striker Antoine Hoppenot has the ability to become a secondary striker.  ACC defenders Matt Hedges and Hunter Jumper play for adiPower will probably focus on double teaming Mattocks.  This may open up Hoppenot as the game unfolds.  Hedges struggled against Ashton Bennett.  How will he fare against Mattocks?

UCLA goalie Brian Rowe had a great supporting cast at UCLA with Shawn Singh at left back and Andy Rose at defensive midfielder.  Rowe struggled against North Carolina in the penalty kicks.  It will be fun to see how adiPower keeper Brian Rowe reacts to save opportunities that Antoine Hoppenot fires his way without the best supporting cast.

Game Recap adiPower VS Prime

It looks like the left side of the defense will be what I watch.  Hunter Jumper is starting at left back with Matt Hedges being that center back playing next to Jumper for adiPower.  Shooting to the right may be more effective for Prime.  Mkosana and Mallace are bench players that will get treated as substitutions.

What’s up with the commentary for this game?  Blah blah blah on the left we got the red team and then on the right we got the green team.

Just to clear things up adiPower is wearing red with Prime wearing green.  Prime is showing great coverage with their defense to no surprise.

Both teams were showing good defense.  Brendan King a player I didn’t have in my mock draft just scored.  Great playmaking by Mattocks double teamed finding Brendan King.  Left back Hunter Jumper really has struggled on both ends.  Most people have Jumper going in the first round and I got Jumper in the 2nd round.

Silva’s chances have been limited.  Great save by goalie Brian Rowe.

adiPower showing great aggression.  Their forwards capitalize off of a pick Chandler Hoffman passes to Casey Townsend.  adiPower ties the game at 1.

Great save by Rowe.  Kelyn Rowe showing great ability to create plays avoiding turnovers.  Rowe is really doing a nice job creating plays.  Prime’s defense has struggled on the lay.  Defensive midfielder Greg Jordan has struggled on some plays.

Silva has been double teamed all game.  Only 2 chances today and he cannot capitalize on either one.

Mattocks gets by Aubrey Perry with ease.  That’s why Mattocks is the top prospect in my opinion.  Darren Mattocks scores goals and does the little things.

Hedges has done well.  He double teamed Mattocks to force Mattocks to pass to Brendan King.  Hedges is keeping adiPower’s defense stable.

Chris Estridge rebounds after some early struggles.  Great save by Rowe as he stops a Mattocks shot on goal.

Tommy Meyer is focusing more on being an offensive defender than a defensive defender in this game.  Meyer really dominated now.

Hedges has good kicking power on offense.  He has to improve his decision making when passing the ball.

What an incredible save by Brian Rowe.  Those are the kind of saves that cause a team to take a goalie in the first round.  Kelyn Rowe showing great aggression with Kelyn Rowe.

Wow another save by Rowe.  I thought Rowe had a chance to be a breakout player at the combine.  I’m sort of surprised he has been this good.

People saying there are questions about Silva playing as an attacking midfielder.  I don’t buy that even though Silva blew his 3rd scoring chance in the first half.

Chandler Hoffman reminds me more of Taylor Twellman than Casey Townsend.  Not saying Townsend isn’t the next Twellman.  I just like Hoffman better.  Townsend had another scoring chance in the first half.

Jumper continues to struggle in this fist half.  Townsend had another big play to end the first half.

Lucky Mkosona and Mallace both in the game now.  Lucky and Mallace both have done well in the 2nd half.

RJ Allen showing great versatility.  Allen can play right back, defensive midfielder, and right wing.  Allen has been listed as a late first round prospect by some.  Allen is really helping his draft stock.

Silva with a low shot.  That is the 6th play I’ve seen Silva struggle on.  I’d love to see Silva fall to the LA Galaxy.  I seriously doubt that happens though.  Silva made a good play there.  Lucky misses a shot he should have scored coming in as a bench player.

Hoffman scores in the final minute for adiPower.  adiPower wins 3 to 2.

Players Who Helped Their Draft Stock

Casey Townsend Forward Maryland Senior Casey Townsend scored a goal off of a turnover and had 2 other scoring chances in the first half.  I had Townsend going anywhere between picks 9 and 15 last week before moving Townsend up to that 12th pick.

Now a Top 10 Prospect previously a 1st round pick

Chandler Hoffman Forward UCLA Junior Hoffman had an assist early.  Had a scoring chance late in the 2nd half.  Hoffman scores in the final minut in the 79th minute of an 80 minute soccer game.  Hoffman reminds me of Taylor Twellman.  Hoffman is a top 5 player who may slip out of the top 10.  I doubt he slips out of the top 10 after todays performance.  I like Hoffman better Kelyn Rowe.  Rowe probably will get picked higher though.

Now a Top 5 Prospect previously a 1st round pick

Brendan King Midfielder Notre Dame Senior Brendan King scored early in the first half giving Prime team the 1-0 lead.  King beat Hunter Jumper in a one on one battle to execute a scoring chance.  King has the versatility to play forward, midfield, and the wing plus he showed some impressive goal scoring ability in the first half.

Now a 2nd Round Prospect previously an undrafted prospect

Brian Rowe Goalie UCLA Senior I had Rowe graded out as a borderline 2nd round pick with the potential to get undrafted prior to kickoff.  Rowe and Blais were 2A and 2B at goalie prior to kickoff.  Rowe made some saves that you would see a first round goalie prospect make.  Rowe did a fantastic job robbing Darren Mattocks of 2 scoring chances.  Rowe did struggle in the second half with that 2nd goal.  Rowe should get drafted though.

Now a 2nd Round Prospect previously an undrafted prospect

RJ Allen Defenseman Monmouth Senior Allen has been surging up draft boards the more I watch him.  I think Allen has a shot of being a late first round pick.

Now a 1st Round Prospect previously a 2nd round prospect

Players Who Hurt Their Stock

Luis Silva Midfielder UC Santa Barbara Senior Luis Silva was a top 10 pick with some people listing him as a potential top 5 pick.  Silva displayed numerous scoring chances and did not capitalize.  Some scouts think he’s not a pure attacking midfielder like I do.  Silva may drop out of the top 10.  A playoff contender may end up getting a steal with Silva if he slides into the teens.

Now a 1st Round Prospect previously a top 10 pick

Lucky Mkosonga Forward Dartmouth Senior Lucky Mkosonga came in off the bench and missed a shot he should have scored.  I’m not sure I would draft Mkosonga after today’s game.  Mkosonga is only going to get limited action with Chandler Hoffman and Casey Townsend starting on adiPower.

Now an undrafted prospect previously a 2nd Round prospect

Game Preview adiZero VS adiPure

The second game featured adiZero VS adiPure.  The second game featured two Ivy League coaches with Jim Barlow the Princeton soccer coach coaching adiZero and Brian Tompkins Yale’s soccer coach coaching adiPure.  From a fans standpoint I really hope there is lousy officiating in this 2nd game.  The only thing better than a 0-0 scrimmage soccer game is watching some coach from an Ivy League school yell at an official to entertain soccer fans.  Yes, that was sarcasm.  More on the players for adiZero and adiPure will be mentioned in the next paragraph.

adiZero features Generation Adidas underclassmen Enzo Martinez.  Coach Barlow has molded Hoppenot into a great striker at Princeton.  Maybe we will see better performances from Brian Ownby and Evans Frimpong at striker.  Both forwards are currently projected as 2nd round picks.  You got Marlow’s coaching and Martinez’s playmaking skills hoping to ignite adiZero’s offense.

Coach Tompkins and adiPure have a great defense.  Chris Blais at goalie was the early favorite to be the fist goalie selected in January’s MLS draft Nick Blake can play back anywhere on defense.  Blake will play right back.  Andrew Jean Baptiste and Tyler Polak are the only 2 underclassmen on defense.  Both generation adidas players are playing for adiPure along with Louisville center back Austin Berry my preseason favorite to go #1 overall.  How does adiZero expect to score on adiPure’s defense?

Ethan Finlay a 2011 Hermann Trophy Finalist for the nations best player and Sam Garza a generation adidas forward are two players who could give a lousy adiZero defense fits.  adiZero does have the top goalie prospect with Ryan Meara which sort of makes this game interesting.

Game Recap adiZero VS adiPure

Ethan Finlay, Dom Dwyer, and Luke Holmes all substitues for adiPure.  Frimpong and Ibbara are the subs for adiZero.

Andrew Jean Baptiste has done well at center back.  Tony Cascio with a good chance.  Both goalies look good so far.

Louisville has four good ones in Kenney Walker, Colin Rolfe, Austin Berry, and Nick DeLeon in this game.

New England’s scouts will look at some players in the 2nd half.

Sam Garza does a nice job on that play.  Tyler Polak doing a nice job at left back.

Rolfe doing a good job.  Enzo Martinez is really struggling early.  If he doesn’t get it together then New England will target Rowe or Hoffman.

Sean Singh with a good pass as UCLA’s left back.  Sean Singh really underrated.  Cascio going up against one of his teammates.  Sam Garza holding someone.  Nick DeLeon really dominant at this point.  DeLeon should be the first senior taken.

Colin Rolfe with good touch in this game.  Tyler Polak and Kenney Walker doing well in this game.

Nick Blake has had some issues at right back.  Both teams have goalies and defensive depth.  I am not surprised that the game is scoreless.

Arthur Ivo with a good shot.  Ryan Meara in goal.  Enzo Martinez loses the ball again.  He recovers.  Cascio showing aggression.

Enzo Martinez got off to a rough start.  Great shot by Martinez even though that is a no goal.

adiZero wears blue and adiPure wears white jerseys.  Still scoreless in the 25th minute.

Sam Garza gets brought down.  He is going to get a free kick.  Some people have questions about his composure.  Austin Berry great defensive ability.  Garza with a shot on goal.

Andy Rose with a deep kick showing the kicking power.  Nick Blake.  Sam Garza had a shot.  Ryan Meara with another good shot on goal.

Polak and Rolfe are making some solid plays.  Enzo Martinez would win the ball.  Andrew Jean Baptiste continuing good defense.  Andrew Jean Baptiste winning a one on one battle with Tony Cascio.

Enzo Martinez with a good play.  Louisville’s players making big plays.

Arthur Ivo, Sam Garza, and Tyler Polak trying to make some plays.  Enzo Martinez continuing to play well on both sides of the ball.

Andy Rose looks undersized.  Rose was on a team.  Walker, Cascio, and Rolfe fail to capitalize on a scoring chance.

Enzo again.  Notre Dame center back Aaron Maund.  Cascio to Rolfe.  Ownby to Martinez.  Great defense by Polak.  Martinez with a chance.  Gets the ball to Walker.

Arthur Ivo with another great shot.  Aaron Maund struggled on his defensive assignment.  Cascio moves.  Cascio misses another shot.  I’ve had questions about his accuracy for some time.  Cascio has struggled under pressure at times.

Great job by center back Austin Berry clearing that shot.  Nobody scores in the first half.  Great defensive effort by both teams.

Nobody really helped or hurt their stock in the first half.  This was a very evenly matched contest for the first 40 minutes.

The second half will start now.  Both teams still scoreless in the 60th minute.

Austin Berry has really stepped up in the second half.  Berry blocking shots in critical situations.

This game has been defense the whole game.  A penalty kick in the final minute makes things a lot more interesting.  The game between adiZero and adiPure ended in a 0-0 tie.  Nobody really hurt their draft stock in this game.  The center backs for both teams really stood out in this game.

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