For Alex Cunliffe `07, leading the men’s soccer team to the NCAA tournament was the main goal this season. Now, after accomplishing that goal, he’s looking to reach a personal goal: playing professional soccer.
Playing in the pros has always been a dream for Cunliffe. When the senior soccer player received the news that he had been selected to participate in the Major League Soccer (MLS) player combine, that dream was suddenly closer to reality.
He will now have a chance to prove to the 13 MLS teams that he belongs in the league.
The mid-fielder, who led the Stags in scoring this year, was honored to have the chance to compete against the nation’s top college players.
“Being invited to the MLS combine is a huge honor for me personally and I am very excited about playing with the best college players from this year,” said Cunliffe. “It caps off a great season for myself and the team as a whole.”
Stags’ Head Coach Carl Rees said he is happy to see Cunliffe have the opportunity to advance to the next level of soccer.
“I am delighted for Alex,” he said. “He thoroughly deserves to show the professional coaches of the MLS his talent.”
“He has the size and technical ability and he also has a insatiable appetite for competition and the game of soccer,” Rees said. “The biggest challenge for a lot of players making the transition from college to the pros is to perform everyday in training. Alex’s hunger and commitment will help him with this challenge.”
Cunliffe, a native of Lanchashire, England, has the opportunity to become the first Fairfield soccer player to be drafted by MLS. While five Stags have played in the first and second divisions of the United Soccer League, the lower level of American pro- soccer, no one has yet played at the top level.
The MLS draft will take place on Jan. 12 in Indianapolis, Ind. 48 players will be chosen by the 13 MLS teams. Last year 23 of the 48 chosen were participants in the combine, giving Cunliffe a legitimate chance to be drafted.
The mid-fielder led Fairfield to the MAAC championship, earning the conference tournament Most Valuable Player award for his efforts. His success during the season and the post-season earned Cunliffe a spot on the All-North Atlantic First Team.
Sophomore midfielder Kerr McLeod was not surprised that Cunliffe was chosen to participate in the combine.
“Alex’s selection to the MLS combine is not a surprise to anybody,” McLeod said. “Since I have been at Fairfield, his potential has been evident on and off the field. Coming into the season as both a captain and a senior, he had a standout season that deserved recognition.”
Fairfield Athletic Director Gene Doris thinks that Cunliffe’s success and opportunity to play at the next level will help the men’s soccer program, which has already taken a major step forward following the team’s NCAA College Cup first round win over UConn.
“It’s always positive when one of our student-athletes receives a high level of recognition for their hard work. Obviously from a recruiting standpoint it helps to convince future high level prospects that Fairfield University has a quality program,” Doris said. “They have the ability to achieve at the highest level both on the field and in the classroom.”
Added Rees: “It is great publicity for our University. Alex’s success is a motivator for the players within our squad currently and for also future players we are looking to recruit.”
For more on Cunliffe and more reaction from his teammates and coach, go to www.mirrorsports.blogspot.com
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