Monday, October 8, 2007
TAMPA, FL -- Just days before the PDL season would end for the Colorado Rapids U-23, a call came from the Assistant Coach of the Colorado Rapids, John Murphy, gave several members of the team a chance to impress the MLS club with a stint on the reserve squad for the weekend.
Murphy said, “We would like to sign the following players as temporary professionals for our game this weekend.” Two year Rapids U-23 PDL starters Cliff Wilmes, Phillip Koshi, Richie Higa, and Galen Thompson all signed the temporary professional contracts.
Coach Peter Ambrose stated, “This is exactly why the relationship with the Colorado Rapids attracts the highest quality college players in the country. The players know that this team is playing, practicing and interacting with the professional team. The next step is for them to sign contracts and their dream becomes reality.”
Cliff Wilmes, a former National Champion with Ft. Lewis, played all 90 minutes that weekend in Kansas City and the coaches liked what they saw on the field. The MLS Colorado Rapids have recently signed Wilmes to a developmental contract for the rest of the year. Wilmes has become the 44th player from the Colorado Rapids U-23 franchise to sign a MLS contract.
The Richmond Kickers announced three players from the USL-2 Second Division Finalists squad joined Major League Soccer on loan in September. Midfielder Trey Alexander traveled with Real Salt Lake to face the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, September 8th while defender Kelvin Jones and USL-2 Goalkeeper of the Year Ronnie Pascale joined DC United against the New England Revolution on Sunday, September 9th.
A native or Little Rock, Arkansas, Alexander joined the Kickers prior to the 2007 season upon participating in the Kickers 2007 spring combine. Starting 13 of 16 regular season games played this season, he netted two goals and an assist for five points on the season and earned USL-2 Team of the Week honors in April for registering the game-winner over Crystal Palace Baltimore. Alexander was signed by the Charleston Battery (USL-1) out of Western Kentucky University in 2005 before spending the 2006 season with USL-2 rivals Cincinnati Kings.
Local talent Jones was a two-year stalwart on the Kickers back line, anchoring the defensive unit that posted 10 shutouts during regular season and US Open Cup action this season. Not only an authority on the defense, Jones doubled as an offensive threat, notching his first goal in a Kickers uniform during Richmond’s 2-2 draw in Wilmington in July. After concluding his collegiate career at Wake Forest University, he spent his first two professional seasons with the Charleston Battery (USL-1) before joining the Kickers out of the 2006 spring combine.
A two-time USL-2 Goalkeeper of the Year honoree (2006, 2007), Pascale recently concluded his eighth season in goal with the Kickers, sixth in the starting position. Finishing third in the GAA Championship race with a regular season average of 0.684, he was named USL-2 All-League First Team goalkeeper and led the league in goalkeeper wins with 12. With 10 shutouts on the season, Pascale led the Kickers to their fourth USL final in six seasons.
