Dec. 18, 2006
Senior Alex Cunliffe will participate in the Major League Soccer (MLS) combine, a four-day event which precedes the MLS Draft. The draft takes place on January 12, four days after the conclusion of the January 5-8 combine in Fort Lauderdale.
Cunliffe was the only Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) player invited to the combine, and one of only 58 college seniors to receive an invitation. The coaching staff and general managers from all 13 MLS teams were in attendance to scout the combine.
The list of players for this year's combine was determined by a panel of Division I college coaches representing all conference. The combine will separate all players into four teams and feature doubleheaders at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Each team will be coached by one of the following four college coaches: John Trask (University of Illinois Chicago), John Rennie (Duke University), Mike Noonan (Brown University), and Greg Andrulis (George Mason University).
The combine is just one of many post-season accolades for Cunliffe, who was named the MAAC tournament most valuable player. Cunliffe, who assisted on the game-winning goal against Saint Peter's College in the MAAC tournament, led the team in scoring this year with eight goals and four assists for 20 points.
Cunliffe earned All-MAAC honors for his performance during the 2006 season. He collected the MAAC tournament most valuable player award as well as a spot on the All-Tournament team. He capped his season by receiving All-Region honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
