PDL Feature
Monday, December 17, 2012
Renowned soccer website TopDrawerSoccer.com released its final list of the top 100 men’s upperclassmen on Monday, with former Reading United standout Jose Gomez of Creighton taking top honors as many of the players begin their preparations for the MLS Combine and SuperDraft next month.
Gomez, who led the Bluejays to the College Cup earlier this month and was the site’s No. 2 selection in preseason, had previously been named TDS Upperclassman Player of the Year, and is also a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, set to be announced next month. After spending this past summer with Reading, he had a standout senior season for Creighton, recording six goals and nine assists.
Gomez led six former PDL players, and one former Super-20 League standout in No. 2 selection Eriq Zavaleta of the Columbus Crew Juniors, named in the Top 10. Gomez’s fellow Hermann Trophy finalists Patrick Mullins, of the New Orleans Jesters, and Ryan Finley, also of Reading United, took the No. 4 and No. 5 spots on the list, followed by the Michigan Bucks’ Scott Caldwell.
Louisville’s Andrew Farrell, whom is being projected as a potential No. 1 selection in the MLS SuperDraft, came in at No. 7 after the former River City Rovers defender had an outstanding season for Louisville, while the PDL contingent in the Top 10 was completed by former Orange County Blue Star midfielder Mikey Lopez of North Carolina.
Preseason and Midseason No. 1 Gyasi Zardes of the Ventura County Fusion slid to the No. 12 berth after a season that saw him scored 15 goals and add nine assists for CSU Bakersfield. Also finding their way into the Top 25, of whom 16 players had PDL experience, were the Austin Aztex’s Dillon Powers, who sat at No. 15 after a standout season for Notre Dame, and Reading United’s Steven Neumann and Ian Christianson, who both played key roles as Georgetown reached its first College Cup.
The Carolina Dynamo duo of Boyd Okwuono and Sebastian Ibeagha also earned Top 25 berths, with PDL Defender of the Year Ibeagha making a big move up the rankings from the preseason, going up 20 berths to No. 22. Fellow Dynamo alum Chris Thomas took the last spot in the Top 25 as well after leading the nation with 23 goals for Elon this fall.
Portland Timbers U-23s goalkeeper Spencer Richey was the first goalkeeper selected, sitting at the No. 20 position after a standout season for the University of Washington, while the Chicago Fire PDL’s Chris Ritter (No. 23) and Washington Crossfire’s Adam Jahn (No. 24) also claimed Top 25 berths.