Metro State Roadrunners Men's Soccer News
Metro State Roadrunners Men’s Soccer News www.GoMetroState.com For immediate release: Jan. 25, 2011
Metropolitan State College of Denver • Department of Athletics • Fax: 303-556-2720 Mail: Campus Box 9 • P.O. Box 173362 • Denver, CO 80217 • Ship: 1201 5th St. • Denver, CO 80217 Sports Info. Director: Andy Schlichting, O: 303-556-3431, C: 612-964-1281, [email protected]
Former Men’s Soccer Player Emory Joins Colorado Rapids COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - Former Metro State men’s soccer star Steven Emory has been invited to training camp with Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids, the soccer club announced Monday evening. Emory is the first player in school history to join an MLS squad following his playing career at Metro State. Emory, a 6-foot-2 midfielder from Fort Collins, Colo., finished his career this past fall as one of the most prolific players in school history. Emory was named first team AllAmerica by both the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and Daktronics, and finished his career as a two-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Daktronics Central Region Player of the Year. He scored 17 goals and had 10 assists for 44 points in 2010, the third-highest point total in school history. In his four-year career, he totaled 99 points on 38 goals and 23 assists, ranking third in school history in points and assists and fourth in goals. Emory finished as Metro State’s all-time leader in shot attempts (268) and second in shots on goal (135). He led Metro State to four winning seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Metro State head coach Ken Parsons compares Emory to two other players he coached at Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix who have reached MLS in Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders) and Spencer Thompson (Portland Timbers). “If I look at those players, Steven included, and look at the vast majority of the other players that I have coached, those three players really worked at their game and really worked at the things necessary to make themselves better,” Parsons said. “It really says something when (Metro State baseball coach Tom Carcione) is stopping by Red Rocks Amphitheater to show his girlfriend around Denver and runs into Steven working out there in December. It shows his work ethic and desire to be the best. “He’s obviously one of [Metro State’s] most decorated players. He came in after the [RMAC All-Time Team was selected], but I think he would have been a candidate for that. He’s been our leading scorer for the last couple years. It’s a little bit misleading to think that he had to do it from another line back (as a midfielder), as opposed to someone like (Antonio) Porras or Phillip Owen, who played forward. He’s had a great career and that’s pretty impressive considering the conference that we play in. We had four teams in the top 25 in the nation this year. We play in one of, if not the, most difficult leagues at the Division II level.” Owen and Porras rank first and second, respectively, in school history in career goals. Parsons also believes Emory’s opportunity is great for the RMAC as a conference and NCAA Division II as a level of competition. “I think D-2 schools tend to be an oversight when you look at the rosters at the professional level. I think this is good for the conference. It’s a great opportunity for Steven and I think everyone in our conference would agree with that, and that it’s great for Division II.” The Rapids, coming off the club’s first-ever MLS Cup championship, open with preseason fitness testing on Tuesday and will begin practice on Thursday for the upcoming 2011 season. They selected Emory from a tryout last week that included 57 players. Rapids assistant coach and former Metro State head coach Brian Crookham was impressed with Emory at the tryout. “His composure on the ball and his efficiency on the ball really stood out,” Crookham said. “He didn’t turn the ball over under pressure.” Emory still has a lot of work to do to make the final cut. Crookham said the team will look at about 40 players during the preseason and the team has to cut to 30 for the regular season. “He’s going to be thrown into competition with some pretty accomplished players,” Crookham said. “His initial path may be to the [reserve team], but hopefully he can work his way into a roster spot.” For Emory, it’s a dream-come-true to play at the highest level near his hometown. “I’m still in shock,” Emory said on Monday. “It hasn’t (fully) hit me yet. It kind of hit me today when I walked into the locker room and saw guys I’ve been watching my whole life. It’s weird coming from a D-2 school. Everyone is from the University of North Carolina, or England, or somewhere like that.” With the team coming off its first MLS Cup championship and a 12-8-10 record during the regular season in 2010, the goals are high in 2011. “You know everyone is under so much pressure,” Emory said. “It’s going to be straight to business.” The Rapids open the season at home on March 19 against Portland, an expansion team. They will play their first preseason game on Feb. 12 in Arizona against Sporting Kansas City. Emory is five classes and an internship away from graduating from Metro State with a degree in health care management and a minor in business. He still plans to take two or three classes this semester as he works towards graduation.
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Metropolitan State College of Denver • Department of Athletics • Fax: 303-556-2720 Mail: Campus Box 9 • P.O. Box 173362 • Denver, CO 80217 • Ship: 1201 5th St. • Denver, CO 80217 Sports Info. Director: Andy Schlichting, O: 303-556-3431, C: 612-964-1281, [email protected]
Former Men’s Soccer Player Emory Joins Colorado Rapids COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - Former Metro State men’s soccer star Steven Emory has been invited to training camp with Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids, the soccer club announced Monday evening. Emory is the first player in school history to join an MLS squad following his playing career at Metro State. Emory, a 6-foot-2 midfielder from Fort Collins, Colo., finished his career this past fall as one of the most prolific players in school history. Emory was named first team AllAmerica by both the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and Daktronics, and finished his career as a two-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Daktronics Central Region Player of the Year. He scored 17 goals and had 10 assists for 44 points in 2010, the third-highest point total in school history. In his four-year career, he totaled 99 points on 38 goals and 23 assists, ranking third in school history in points and assists and fourth in goals. Emory finished as Metro State’s all-time leader in shot attempts (268) and second in shots on goal (135). He led Metro State to four winning seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Metro State head coach Ken Parsons compares Emory to two other players he coached at Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix who have reached MLS in Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders) and Spencer Thompson (Portland Timbers). “If I look at those players, Steven included, and look at the vast majority of the other players that I have coached, those three players really worked at their game and really worked at the things necessary to make themselves better,” Parsons said. “It really says something when (Metro State baseball coach Tom Carcione) is stopping by Red Rocks Amphitheater to show his girlfriend around Denver and runs into Steven working out there in December. It shows his work ethic and desire to be the best. “He’s obviously one of [Metro State’s] most decorated players. He came in after the [RMAC All-Time Team was selected], but I think he would have been a candidate for that. He’s been our leading scorer for the last couple years. It’s a little bit misleading to think that he had to do it from another line back (as a midfielder), as opposed to someone like (Antonio) Porras or Phillip Owen, who played forward. He’s had a great career and that’s pretty impressive considering the conference that we play in. We had four teams in the top 25 in the nation this year. We play in one of, if not the, most difficult leagues at the Division II level.” Owen and Porras rank first and second, respectively, in school history in career goals. Parsons also believes Emory’s opportunity is great for the RMAC as a conference and NCAA Division II as a level of competition. “I think D-2 schools tend to be an oversight when you look at the rosters at the professional level. I think this is good for the conference. It’s a great opportunity for Steven and I think everyone in our conference would agree with that, and that it’s great for Division II.” The Rapids, coming off the club’s first-ever MLS Cup championship, open with preseason fitness testing on Tuesday and will begin practice on Thursday for the upcoming 2011 season. They selected Emory from a tryout last week that included 57 players. Rapids assistant coach and former Metro State head coach Brian Crookham was impressed with Emory at the tryout. “His composure on the ball and his efficiency on the ball really stood out,” Crookham said. “He didn’t turn the ball over under pressure.” Emory still has a lot of work to do to make the final cut. Crookham said the team will look at about 40 players during the preseason and the team has to cut to 30 for the regular season. “He’s going to be thrown into competition with some pretty accomplished players,” Crookham said. “His initial path may be to the [reserve team], but hopefully he can work his way into a roster spot.” For Emory, it’s a dream-come-true to play at the highest level near his hometown. “I’m still in shock,” Emory said on Monday. “It hasn’t (fully) hit me yet. It kind of hit me today when I walked into the locker room and saw guys I’ve been watching my whole life. It’s weird coming from a D-2 school. Everyone is from the University of North Carolina, or England, or somewhere like that.” With the team coming off its first MLS Cup championship and a 12-8-10 record during the regular season in 2010, the goals are high in 2011. “You know everyone is under so much pressure,” Emory said. “It’s going to be straight to business.” The Rapids open the season at home on March 19 against Portland, an expansion team. They will play their first preseason game on Feb. 12 in Arizona against Sporting Kansas City. Emory is five classes and an internship away from graduating from Metro State with a degree in health care management and a minor in business. He still plans to take two or three classes this semester as he works towards graduation.
Metro State Athletics • Page 1 of 1
