Kiwis at US Colleges

Rather than having a waste of time match against Myanmar, would NZS be better off assembling the US-based college players, and having "contact time" with them - see how they are placed, work out how to get them into pro-teams after college, maybe play against "USA College XI" or a "Canada College XI"? A lot of players just drift into the ether after going down the college route, maybe some good talent going to waste

Maybe better to get them together after the school term finishes.

Good idea - makes more sense......and maybe get scouts from MLS/USL/NASL along, so they can see if there is any talent worth investing in

Especially because the US colleges don't have to release their players if they get called up for the national team.

What a goal by Alex Ridsdale

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/72361380/alex-ridsdale-scores-spectacular-bicycle-kick-goal-for-xavier-university

Wellingtonian GK Andrew Whiters is at St. John's Uni, same as Luis Esteves.

Former Auckland City's Troy Phoa is now at Boston Uni

link

Go Gauchos

18 year old Dunedin keeper Liam Whittakers move to the States this year may have just fallen through as he is apparently 'too short'. He's 6 foot but they said you need too be 6'2. Thoughts?

lol... obviously not for the kid.

You'd think things like reaction times / vertical leap etc would be more vital in reality.

#metricsrool

A game of the top 2 inches - but this is nuts.

That's stoopid.

Victor Valdes is only 6'. Casillas is 6'1" or 6' depending on who you believe. Kasper Schmeichel is 6'1". And what about the legendary Jorge Campos? He was only about 5'8" or so.

Obviously height is an advantage for a goalie but it's not like the kid is 5'2" or something.

If you're good enough you're tall enough.

Former NZ U17 and U20 rep (apparently?) Tony Falvino has left Greensboro College and is now 'head coach' at USL side Carolina Dynamo.

Bit about him here

http://greensborocollegesports.com/news/2016/3/9/mens-soccer-falvino-named-carolina-dynamo-head-coach.aspx?path=msoc

Scott Doney (former Wanderers SC striker) Marshall Thundering Herd

Harry Morton (former Hawke's Bay defender) - Hartwick Hawks

Daniel Carbonatto Bowkett (former Team Welly / Wanderers SC) - Princeton

Stuart Holthusen (former Wanderers SC) - Akron Zips

Riley Kelliher (Wanderers SC defender) - Northwestern Wildcats

Only one I recognise is Holthusen...

Are any of them getting big raps?

Still is. Currently back playing for Wests.

Connor Probert at university of Kentucky. Also played in the u20 world cup.

Most colleges heading back into preseason soon. Any news of young kiwis heading off to their first season at US colleges? 

Wests/Ole:

Noah Billingsley to Santa Barbara

Think I heard Mikey Faber might be off to somewhere in Texas

Could be others from West/Ole.

Mason Kelliher : Willamette University (NCAA Div 3)

Mikey Faber : University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (NCAA Div 1)

Harry Merz : St Edwards University (NCAA Div 2)

(Willamette University had another Kiwi on their 2015 roster: Eric Keefe (ex Wellington College).

I guess student athletes attend USA College for different reasons. eg. The standard of "soccer" (Urgh).....the standard of education....life experience etc. Some Colleges rank highly for "soccer" but not so much Academics , some rank high on both (eg Stanford)  & some are more academic than sports orientated (Div 3 has some excellent academic institutions) & its about finding the best "fit" for the specific student. The academic requirements for eligibilty are also different between NCAA Div 1 & 2, NAIA. 

I'm no expert so happy to be corrected but as I understand it: Institutions can choose which Division they wish to be in and must meet certain requirements of that division. eg  number of sports offered, Div 3 cant offer "Athletic scholarships" etc.

Institutions do change Divisions. eg. University of Chicago previously switched from Div 1 to Div 3, Pfieffer won Div 2 last year but will switch to Div 3 in 2016.

The standard of "soccer"  & the standard of education can vary quite a bit across Divisions & the Institutions ranking within their Division. If taking the MLS draft then the majority of players come from NCAA Div 1 (generally from the top 50/100 Colleges from within Div 1 ? ) but a few have come from Div 2/3 , NAIA.

How is Stuart Houthenson (sorry about spelling) going?

He had a great start as a freshman a couple years ago and looked good at the age group level.

Freshmen Year: 9 starts, 4 goals, 4 assists. Received Second-Team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) selection

Sophomore Year: 10 starts, 8 goals, 6 assists. Received First-Team All-MAC selection, and MAC All Tournament Team selection

Seems to be well on course to hopefully start and lead the line in his final two years.

http://www.gozips.com/sports/msoc/2016-17/bios/hol...

His Sophomore stats are excellent!

He'll be pushing for MLS draft trial... can you trial before you graduate?

If he continues the way he is going and has consistent Junior and Senior season, it is likely he could be invited to the MLS combine which usually occurs in December for MLS teams to scout for the draft which occurs in January. 

Depending on his situation with his studies, he could graduate a semester early, which would mean he would be done in December of his Senior year. Or he could just go to the draft and see what happens, and if not, return to Uni for his final semester. 

Top Drawer Soccer College Mens Soccer Pre Season Player Rankings: 

#24 - Francis de Vries - St. Francis University (Pa.) 

#27 - Cory Brown, Xavier University 

Top Drawer Soccer College Womens Soccer Pre Season Player Rankings: 

#84 - Hannah Wilkinson, University of Tennessee

Is Francis de Vries , Ryan's brother?

no

Francis used to play for FC Basel Youth in the swiss league

Tane Gent scored a double for No. 21 Wake Forrest last night: http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-soccer/re...

Any others having early season success? 

For all of those wanting to follow any of the Kiwi players at US Colleges, hope this makes it easier for you: 

As of Sept 15, 2016

Awesome table, cheers for this.

Cory Brown must be getting close to an All Whites call-up, although it may be harder now with all the big guns back. They should bring him in to train with the team when they're in USA at least though. He's doing so well at Xavier that I'd be very surprised if he's not drafted when he finishes.