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Thomas & Ralph Taken in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft
KANSAS CITY, MO (January 17) – All-Americans Shavar Thomas
(Kingston, Jamaica) and Damani Ralph (Kingston, Jamaica) of the University of
Connecticut men’s soccer were first and second round picks in the 2003 Major
League Soccer (MLS) SuperDrfat held in Kansas City, MO in conjunction with the
National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention. Thomas was a
first round selection, 10 th
overall, while Ralph was picked 18th
overall, in the second round.
 Thomas
will be joining former teammate All-American and Hermann Trophy winner Chris
Gbandi on the Dallas Burn, both playing on the back line. An All-American Second
Team honoree, Thomas was selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team and was a
two-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week. He was also named to the NSCAA/adidas
All-New England First Team. Thomas scored two goals, both headers off corner
kicks, and two assists for six points. He was one of the mainstays of the Husky
defense in 2002 stifling the opponents to 0.95 goals and 9.8 shots per game. In
his two years at Connecticut, Thomas played and started in 36 games, guiding the
Huskies to two BIG EAST Tournament finals and two NCAA Tournament berths.
 Ralph
was selected by the Chicago Fire late in the second round. In 2002, 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. |
