PDL Feature
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
FT. LAUDERDALE BEACH, Fla. – A little more than five months later, one thing still sticks out for former Austin Aztex standout Kris Tyrpak about his side claiming the PDL Championship.
“Just the last two days,” Tyrpak said recently at the MLS Combine. “We had the dinner, and the formality, and then the next day just going out and being able to take care of it. I was scared after the first couple of minutes happened, but after that I figured we had it in the book. Being able to celebrate with that group of guys, we were so close. It was like a family there; it was unreal.”
The championship was the culmination of a standout season for Tyrpak, who was named the PDL’s Most Valuable Player after he recorded nine goals and provided a consistent attacking threat throughout the season. His performance helped earn a place at the combine, and put him on the radar for MLS clubs as he returned for Houston Baptist for his senior season.
“I had no clue where I was going to end up at the end of the Aztex’s season, but the Aztex’s season propelled me through the year in college, propelled me obviously to get here,” Tyrpak said. “Just being part of the Aztex has been unbelievable. They treat everybody amazing; nobody gets special treatment. You have to earn your spot, the best will play, and everybody’s a teammate, everybody’s friends.”
That meritocracy gave Tyrpak the chance to shine among some of his more highly-regarded teammates. Coming from Houston Baptist, which recently joined the Western Athletic Conference, Tyrpak used his time with the Aztex to stake his claim as a strong pro prospect.
“At Houston Baptist, we do play some good competition, but we’re not playing the Marylands, the Akrons, the UNCs,” he said. “In the PDL you’re playing against everybody. We had a couple of kids from Akron, I’m sure we played some teams with guys from ACC schools, and it’s definitely a proving ground, and I think that’s helped me a lot.”
After their return to action in 2012, the Aztex had three players selected in last year’s MLS SuperDraft, including Rookie of the Year Dillon Powers and 18-year-old standout Kekuta Manneh. This year, Tyrpak won’t be the only member of the club moving into MLS, with former Aztex coach Paul Dalglish joining Jeff Cassar’s coaching staff at Real Salt Lake.
“If there’s anybody that I would say deserved it, it would be him,” Tyrpak said. “He pushed us to work day-in and day-out.”
Given his relationship with Dalglish, Tyrpak would be happy to head to RSL should they take him in Thursday’s SuperDraft. No matter where he is selected, though, Tyrpak is focused on getting up to speed not just to the game on the field, but to the day-in, day-out attitude expected of a professional.
“This is a job now, people are getting paid, and you’ve got to go in there and earn your spot just like with the Aztex, but I guess even more so there,” Tyrpak said. “You’ve got to pay your dues as well, because you’re going to be a rookie, you’re going to be around guys that are more experienced, that have been around the league, so you’ve got to take that into account and just go out and play your game.”
After scoring a goal in Sunday’s scrimmages while linking up well with Maryland and former New Orleans Jesters forward Patrick Mullins, things appeared to be moving in the right direction for Tyrpak in terms of his draft stock.
“He’s very active,” ESPN analyst and former New England Revolution star Taylor Twellman said. “I think he’s dynamic. I thought he took his finish very well; he was composed. He kind of reminds me a little bit like a Chris Rolfe, maybe, and I think he’s going to be taken.”
After watching his former Aztex teammates perform in MLS this past summer, Tyrpak is certainly eager to show he belongs in the same conversation.
“Oh, definitely, Dillon getting Rookie of the Year, he came in and he earned it,” Tyrpak said. “Kekuta - I loved playing with him, and when he scored his hat trick I was watching and I was rooting for him, but you always have that feeling that while they’re there now, I want to get my chance, I want to get up there and do those things.”