For the first time since 2003 no Ivy League players were taken at the Major League Soccer draft, held this past Friday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Although four Ancient Eight graduates -- Brown midfielder Keith Cauldwell, Dartmouth midfielders Darnell Nance and P.J. Scheufele and Princeton midfielder Darren Spicer, the 2004 Ivy League Player of the Year -- were eligible for selection, none heard his name called in the draft's four rounds.
Yet two MLS coaches with Ivy League roots said that those players have a good chance of being selected in Thursday's supplemental draft.
"Our draft's not over," Chicago Fire and former Cornell coach Dave Sarachan said. "I think these are guys who will certainly be considered."
Of the four, only Spicer was invited to the MLS Player Combine, which was held Jan. 12-15 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif, and Sarachan said he "thought Spicer did very well."
Chivas USA and former Princeton head coach Bob Bradley concurred, saying Spicer's presence at the combine was "a testament to the fact that people around the country respect the Ivy League."
"It's not as visible as some of the other leagues," Bradley said of the Ancient Eight, "but coaches in the league do a thorough job of looking at all levels."
Bradley added that he "would expect that [Spicer will] be selected at some point in that [supplemental] draft."
The Philadelphia soccer community fared only slightly better on the draft board. Temple forward Tony Donatelli did not hear his name called, but Georgetown's Jeff Curtin -- a native of Oreland, Pa. -- was drafted by the Chicago Fire. Curtin's brother, Jim, also plays for the Fire.
The MetroStars chose UCLA and U.S. Under-20 national team defender Marvell Wynne with the draft's first pick, after trading with Los Angeles' Chivas USA to acquire the top spot. The Atlantic Coast Conference had ten players chosen -- the most of any conference -- led by forward Jason Garey of national champions Maryland.
Garey, who won the MAC/Hermann Trophy for being college soccer's top player, was drafted third overall by the Columbus Crew. He was one of four Terrapins picked on the day.
Away from the draft board, Philadelphia's soccer reputation was greatly improved in the banquet hall of the Convention Center.
The proceedings were conducted with the sort of glitz and glamour that might be found at the NFL or NBA drafts, with video montages of all the players and on-stage analysis from Fox Soccer Channel commentators.
In addition, Adidas unveiled this season's game ball for the league and new jerseys for 11 of the 12 teams before the draft began.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber was happy with the way the draft turned out.
"This is by far the best production we've ever had; it's the largest crowd we've ever had," Garber said. "This gives you the feeling that you're at the NFL draft -- it's a big-time event."
Garber also addressed the potential for Philadelphia to land an MLS team. While Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles, would seem the best choice for a potential venue, Garber did not rule out Franklin Field, either.
"There are lots of facilities --Penn's a good facility and the Linc's a good facility," he said.
Although Franklin Field has a Sprinturf surface as opposed to Lincoln Financial Field's grass, Garber said that the playing surface at a stadium would not necessarily be the determining factor in where a team plays.
"FIFA has now accepted artificial surfaces, even for World Cup competitions," he said, referring to the governing body of world soccer. But he added that "we love a grass field."
