STORRS, CT (December 17) – In the days prior to the 2003 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft, University of Connecticut men’s soccer seniors Damani Ralph (Kingston, Jamaica), Anthony Curtis (Kingston, Jamaica) and William Thornton (York, PA) will take part in the 2002 adidas MLS Player Combine from January 12-14 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

The trio will compete for the east squad along with other top-graduating seniors around from around the country in front of MLS coaches and general managers. The US U-20 national team will also compete in the three-day, four-team round robin. The teams were selected by a panel of Division I college coaches in conjunction with representatives of the MLS coaches.

Ralph notched a team-high 18 goals and five assists for 41 points, including nine game-winners, several in crucial situations. He was named the 2002 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, an All-BIG EAST First Team member and a four-time BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week. Ralph was one of 15 finalists for the prestigious M.A.C. Hermann Trophy award and was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-American Second Team and the All-New England First Team. In only two seasons at UConn, Ralph scored a career 28 goals and 11 assists for 67 points, playing and starting in a possible 45 games.

Curtis directed the Huskies’ midfield for the second consecutive season, and for his efforts was named the 2002 BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year and to the NSCAA/adidas All-New England First Team. As a starter in 18 of his 20 games played, he added a team-best eight assists which ranks him third among all league players. Four of Curtis’ assists came in eight BIG EAST games.

Thornton played and started in all 23 games for Connecticut in 2002, notching the most minutes of any field player on the team. He helped anchor the defense from the flank holding the opponents to 0.95 goals and 9.8 shots per game, as well as 11 shutouts. Thornton ended his career missing only five games, and started in a possible 89 contests.

Strong defensive and offensive outlets propelled the University of Connecticut men’s soccer team to a record of 17-6 overall, 7-3 in the BIG EAST conference putting an end to the 2002 campaign. The Huskies made their league-best 18th appearances in the 2002 BIG EAST Championship and earned a bid into the NCAA Tournament for the sixth straight and 23rd overall time. UConn had a seven-game win streak midseason and remained undefeated at 11-0 on its home field.

EAST
GOALKEEPER: Michael Behonick (American); DEFENDERS: William Thornton (Connecticut), Rich Bradley (St. John’s), Guy Abrahamson (Rutgers); MIDFIELDERS: Anthony Curtis (Connecticut), Trevor Perea (Duke), Donald McIntosh (Duke), Sherif El Bialy (Rutgers); FORWARDS: Damani Ralph (Connecticut), Matias Asorey (Florida International), Phil Swenda (Seton Hall), Machel Millwood (Towson).

CENTRAL
GOALKEEPER: Doug Warren (Clemson); DEFENDERS: Tim Glowienka (South Carolina), Brent Jacquette (Penn State), John Swann (Indiana); MIDFIELDERS: Diego Walsh (Southern Methodist), Matt Crawford (North Carolina), Ryan Mack (Indiana), David Testo (North Carolina); FORWARDS: Jordan Quinn (South Carolina), Dimelon Westfield (Clemson), Byron Carmichael (Marshall), Pat Noonan (Indiana).