Dec. 2, 2004
University of Dayton men's soccer forward Chris Rolfe was among the 66 invitees to the 2005 adidas MLS Player Combine the league announced Thursday. The forward who just completed his senior season will show off his skills for the 12 teams in North America's premier professional league.
Rolfe (Kettering, OH) was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team after being an offensive force in Dayton's 8-3-0 run to second place in the conference. Despite playing in only 12 games, Rolfe racked up 24 points, the third-highest total in the league. He scored seven goals and set a UD single-season assists record with 10, to lead the conference.
From January 8-11, the 66 players will compete at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. for the 2005 adidas. for the attention of MLS coaches and general managers in the hopes of being selected in the MLS SuperDraft on Friday, Jan. 14 in Baltimore, MD.
At least year's MLS SuperDraft, Dayton defender Denny Clanton was selected by the Chicago Fire, with whom he signed a contract and played in 10 games, starting six this past season.
THE ROLFE FILE Forward - Kettering, OH - Fairmont
Senior (2004) Second Team NSCAA All-America selection Chris Rolfe racked up 24 points, the third-highest total in the Atlantic 10, despite playing in only 13 games. He scored seven goals and set a UD single-season assists record with 10, to lead the A-10. He was an Atlantic 10 Pre-Season All-Conference Team selection and validated that by being named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team and NSCAA Great Lakes Region First Team after being an offensive force in Dayton's 8-3-0 run to second place in the conference. He was an Atlantic 10 Player of the Week selection after a four-goal weekend October 29-31, which also earned him a spot on the College Soccer News' National Team of the Week. Since the start of 2003, UD is 16-6-2 with Rolfe and 7-8-1 without him. Rolfe finishes his career sixth all-time at UD in goals with 31, third in total points with 87 and the Flyers career leader in assists with 25. His career average of 0.40 assists per game is second all-time at UD, and his 1.40 points per game average is third all-time.
Junior (2003) A nagging groin injury limited Rolfe to just 10 games and nine starts, including a few cameo appearances, but Rolfe tied for second on the team in goals (4), assists (5) and points (13) and was tied for sixth in the Atlantic 10 in assists...Registered a point in seven of his nine starts...His per game averages would have placed him third in the A-10 in points per game (1.3), seventh in goals per game (0.4) and first in assists per game (0.5) if he qualified in those categories...Tallied a point in his first five games for the Flyers, starting with a three-assist performance in UD's 4-2 win over Michigan...Scored a goal and setup another in the Louisville Mussellman Hotels Classic to earn the tourney's Offensive MVP honors as UD defeated Wisconsin-Milwaukee and host Louisville to take the tournament title...Came off the bench to score two goals, including the game-winner in UD's 3-2 come-from-behind win over Wisconsin, which earned him a spot on College Soccer News' National Team of the Week and Atlantic 10 Player of the Week honors...Set-up UD's only goal in a 1-1 tie vs #12 Oakland...Scored the game-winning goal in UD's 1-0 win over Rhode Island...Was named to the All-Great Lakes Region and All-Ohio First Teams...Not eligible for Atlantic 10 All-Conference Teams after appearing in just three regular season conference games...UD was 7-1-2 with Rolfe in the lineup and 5-4-0 without him.
Sophomore (2002) Named First Team All-Conference after finishing fifth in the Atlantic 10 in goals (15) and points (33)...The Flyers' leading scorer boasted five multi-goal games...Named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week, the Soccer America Team of the Week and was tabbed the Atlantic 10 Conference's Player of the Week for September 16-22 after his three-goal weekend at the Dayton Marriott Flyer Classic...Named to All-Tournament team at the DMFC...Named to the All-Great Lakes Region First Team and All-Ohio First Team.
Freshman (2001) Named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team...Started in 19 of 20 games for the Flyers, finishing his rookie campaign with five goals and eight assists for 18 points...Led the Flyers in assists and finished third on the team in goals... Finished 12th in the Atlantic 10 in scoring...Second in the A-10 among rookie scorers...Scored his first collegiate goal versus Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which started a streak of three straight games with a goal... Scored the game winning goal in the 88th minute of the Flyers' 2-1 win over Duquesne... Recorded three assists in the Flyers' 3-0 win at Temple on Oct. 28... Named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for the week of Oct. 22-28 after putting up a five-point week... Named to the All-Tournament team of the Atlantic 10 Championships...Named to the All-Ohio Second Team.
