MLS Combine Notebook
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
LAUDERHILL, Fla. – In addition to playing regular-season and playoff contests, a number of PDL teams compete each season in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. For Michigan Bucks standout defender Kevin Cope, the experience of playing against professionals, including MLS sides, was valuable as he continued his development during the summer.
“It’s fun,” Cope said. “Just to get the opportunity to do that, it’s a very cool thing, but when you take it serious, you don’t just go out and roll over for those guys. You compete, you battle and you prove yourself, and that’s just a confidence-booster for me, for my team, letting us know that we can play at the next level. That’s been a dream of mine for a while, so to be able to do that gave me confidence and encouraged me and motivated me to keep improving.”
Cope and the Bucks recorded one of the more memorable upsets in recent Open Cup history in 2012 as they defeated the Chicago Fire 3-2 after extra time in the third round. A Michigan native who starred for Michigan State in college, Cope was appreciative of the chance to play and train the Bucks gave him and a number of other standouts.
“You know, it was phenomenal,” he said. “Dan Duggan’s the owner there and he’s a great guy; he and I got on very well. It’s about staying sharp and playing with guys you’re not used to playing with. The Bucks are a pretty good organization and they’ve got players coming in from all over the place. I’ve played with a number of guys here on that team, so the caliber is phenomenal there and it’s a good way to stay sharp over the summer.”
Cope was named the PDL Defender of the Year in 2012 as he starred while helping the Bucks claim the league’s regular-season championship. Now, after an enjoyable experience at the MLS Combine, he’s eager to move into the professional ranks.
“Before I got here I was a little nervous, but now, talking to guys, it’s like I said, it’s very cool,” Cope said. “I’m enjoying it a lot and the experience is something special here, and hopefully I can use this, playing with these guys, and take that to the next level, wherever I happen to go.”
VENTER EXCITED FOR SOL: Former Real Colorado Foxes defender Kyle Venter had a standout college career for New Mexico, but if his returning Lobo teammates want to play in the PDL this summer, new franchise the Albuquerque Sol appear set to provide that outlet.
Speaking after Sunday’s scrimmages, Venter was certainly enthusiastic about the new club ahead of its arrival for the upcoming season.
“I’ve been down there while they’ve been getting it going, and it just sounds like it’s going to be an unbelievable environment,” Venter said. “The coaching staff, the GM I think is Chris Cartlidge from the Rio Vista club, and he’s an unbelievable guy. He used to be an assistant with New Mexico, they’re in good hands, he’s going to make sure they’re a competitive team, that they’re really good.”
A native of Colorado, Venter returned home to compete for the Foxes for a pair of seasons, and enjoyed the different challenges playing in the PDL offered.
“It was awesome,” Venter said. “It makes it really easy when it’s in-state, sometimes I’d get to go home a little bit. I love it, the coaching staff is awesome, the guys that come home are awesome, and playing at that high level, it’s a really nice break from college, but you get another challenge, different challenges with some better players at times.”
MILLER TIME: Creighton defender Eric Miller, who turned 21 today, had already garnered a good amount of experience before signing as a Generation adidas player for this year’s MLS SuperDraft. The U.S. U20 international reached a pair of College Cups with the Bluejays, and went to the U20 World Cup this past summer.
He also got the chance to compete in the PDL, with the Portland Timbers U-23s his home for the summer in each of the past two seasons.
“It was great, the Timbers U-23s treated us super-well, we got to play in the stadium a couple of times in front of the Timbers Army,” Miller said. “A couple of guys got to train with the first team a lot, so it was great to play with Caleb and kind of see all those great players who play for them, Valeri and Nagbe and all those guys, how they operate on a day-to-day basis.”
Miller played principally at full back at the Combine, a position held by one of his friends from the U20 national team and another former PDL standout, DeAndre Yedlin. The native of Minnesota is hoping he can have the same impact the former Sounders FC U23 player had in his rookie season.
“DeAndre, he’s a good friend of mine, he’s a great player, so I’d love to do something similar to what he’s doing,” Miller said. “He’s doing great for himself, and he’s a good kid, so I feel really good for him.”