With an appearance in the 2011 NCAA College Cup, the UCLA Bruins Men's soccer team has garnered interest in many of it's seniors and juniors, six of which will participate in this weekend's player combine. MLS announced earlier in the month that four UCLA players had been invited to participate in the 2012 MLS Combine. Later it was announced that two players had been added to the Generation Adidas class.
MLS announced the rosters for the four teams that will playing in combine games. Each team is named after an Adidas boot. Shawn Singh, defender from UCLA will be on the blue adiZero team. Andy Rose, midfielder, will be on the white adiPure team. Eder Arreola, midfielder, is on the green Prime team. The adiPower red team is loaded with Bruins: goalkeeper Brian Rowe, midfielder and Generation Adidas player Kevin Rowe, and forward and Generation Adidas player Chandler Hoffman.
Generation Adidas players typically have a year left of school, are allowed to be drafted without affecting the senior roster, and as a result earn a salary much higher than the league minimum. Entering the program disqualifies them from NCAA soccer, so Generation Adidas players are also given scholarship money to finish their degrees.
Losing six players certainly hurts the UCLA men's soccer program, but fans can take solace in the fact that there's always the chance one of the six could end up with the LA Galaxy or Chivas USA. Cal State Northridge also has a player in the combine, senior midfielder Rafael Garcia. Todd Saldana of the South Bay Force is one of the assistant coaches, on the green Prime team.