FC Dallas Academy/College Review: Week 1

by Daniel Robertson on Sep 2, 2011 7:00 AM CDT in FC Dallas Youth News

This is a brand new feature here on the blog with the college soccer season starting up last weekend, its appropriate to take a look at how the FCD Academy products are doing at their respective schools. I've got a fairly comprehensive list, but if I'm missing anyone that you know of, please let me know and I'll add them to the list.

London Woodberry - University of Maryland In his third year at Maryland, the outside back had a good weekend, starting both matches for the Terps. On Friday night, Woodberry and Maryland defeated St. John's 3-0 and on Monday they downed West Virginia(Sorry, Drew) 3-1. It's tough to know exactly how many minutes he played as the box scores do not reflect it, but it's good to see that Woodberry is a first choice starter for UM. He's a guy to keep your eye on after his senior year next season. UM faces Stanford and Radford this weekend.

Bradlee Baladez - University of South Carolina Bradlee Baladez and South Carolina posted a disappointing 3-2 loss to College of Charleston in a game that was rescheduled to to Hurricane Irene. It was a good day for Baladez, however, scoring his first goal of the season in the 11th minute and registering three shots on goal during the game. USC travels to Clemson for a game tomorrow night.

Chris Figueroa - SMU This is one that caught me by surprise, Chris Figueroa, the starting 2-way midfielder on the FCD '09 class has transferred to SMU from NC State. He's a decent midfield who played 8 games for the Wolfpack last year and will be ineligible for SMU this season.

Keep reading

Daniel Premenko - Creighton Another FCD academy product has transferred, central defender Daniel Premenko who earned All-Newcomer Team honors at Oral Roberts last season has gone to 6th ranked Creighton University.

Boyd Okwuono - University of North Carolina The UNC freshman started and played 90 minutes for the Tar Heels in their season opening 3-1 win over UNC Wilmington. It's huge to me that "OC" is starting and playing 90 minutes as a freshman. The more playing time he gets the better before FCD signs him to a homegrown deal in a year or two. UNC plays Oregon State and then a huge showdown with Louisville this weekend in the Nike Classic at Chapel Hill.

Jacob Gerondale - IPFW After redshirting at Wisconsin last season, Gerondale has moved on to Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne. In his redshirt freshman year, Gerondale, a defender, has seen time as a sub in their first three games, losses to Bradley and Bowling Green as well as a win over Milwaukee.

Jack Coleman - Indiana Did not play in Indiana's 0-0 draw against Notre Dame to open the season. Coleman did start their final exhibition game against Xavier and with two games this weekend, I'd expect him to see some time on the pitch.

Jamie Ibarra - SMU Backup goalkeeper in SMU's 3-2 loss to William and Mary, did not play.

Damian Rosales - SMU Played 31 minutes in the 3-2 loss

Skylar Hagan - Old Dominon Season opener against Navy was postponed but the freshman outside back featured as a substitute in ODU's exhibition against George Washington

Byron Knowles - Lubbock Christian Started Lubbock Christian's 2-0 win over University of the Southwest

Did I miss anyone? Let me know.

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Comments

Nice feature.

Good stuff, nice to get updates on the kids that have gone off to college.
I think there are a couple opportunities for improvement to the layout, though:
- A quick explanation of the Homegrown rules in relation to these guys in the introduction. What level of rights does FCD still have on these guys? If they graduate or declare they’re going pro, are they in the Superdraft pool like anyone else? Doesn’t appear that way based on one of your comments on Boyd Okwuono, but I just don’t know the rules.
- Listing their year after name and college. “London Woodberry – University of Maryland – Junior” would be more straight-forward than, “London Woodberry – University of Maryland In his third year at Maryland…”

by fennsk1 on Sep 2, 2011 7:23 AM CDT reply actions

Good recs, fennsk

I would also like to see position listed after the players name.

Great feature, really lets the fans tie into the developmental scene. Kind of like a Newberg Report for FCD.

by texg8r on Sep 2, 2011 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions

Home Growns

As far as I know with regards to the HG rules in MLS, if a player is in a team’s academy system they lay claim to that player. But it is up to the club to offer that player a HG contract or not though. I believe that’s how it worked with Houston this past year with one or two of their HGs that declared for the draft early…the Dynamo looked at them and decided they wanted to offer them a HG contract. Same thing with NY and Matt Kassel. At one point they weren’t going to offer him a HG contract and he was said to be returning to school but in the 11th hour NY offered him a HG contract. Its still a weird rule that is being ironed out though. Dallas is one of those few clubs that can do a lot with it based on their system and the amount of talent in place.

Editor/writer at Big D Soccer, writer at SBNation.com/soccer, owner/founder of WVHooligan.com and you can follow me on Twitter.

by Drew Epperley on Sep 2, 2011 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks

for the recommendation.

I will do that next time around though obviously Drew nailed it. Once they’re draft eligible, you have to make a decision on the kid or open him up to MLS. Before that, you make the decision whenever you want to.

I will include their class year next time around too. I’m sure I’m missing a few kids, but I nailed all the main HG prospects I think.

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by Daniel Robertson on Sep 2, 2011 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions