The Timbers continue their preparation for the 2010 season this weekend as the club holds its annual invite-only combine. The two-day combine features dozens of standout players from various collegiate and professional levels.
As with many combines, the eclectic nature of the player pool creates interesting storylines of athletes looking to find that next step in their careers. Here is the first of two snapshots which portray the players and talent attending this year’s invite-only combine.
Limam Sedyi
(forward) – Was invited to attend the invite-only combine after a strong showing in the Timbers’ open tryout … A member of AC Milan’s youth team from 2006-07, training with the club and playing in exhibition matches … Played in France’s fourth division from 2003-06, and scored 14 goals over two seasons with FC Mende … Has played professionally in Senegal and Bahrain.
Maxwell Griffin
(forward) – Brother of former Timbers defender Leonard Griffin … Scored 28 career goals in 70 games during his time at UCLA … Led the Bruins in scoring both his junior and senior seasons … Was an All-Pac-10 first-team selection as a senior in 2008 … Helped UCLA win the Pac-10 championship in 2008.
Darren Yeagle
(forward) – Recently finished his collegiate career at Indiana … Played in 21 games during his senior season and led the Hoosiers to the third round of the 2009 NCAA tournament … Earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year and All-Big Ten second-team honors … In 2006, netted the game-winning goal against Penn State in the Big Ten Championship game … Entering college, was one of College Soccer News' Top 100 Freshmen to Watch.
Andrew Wright
(forward) – Was a member of the Wake Forest soccer team for two seasons (2005-06) … Played in 19 games as a freshman and scored one goal … Stopped playing soccer for the Demon Deacons and was a walk-on for the football team for two seasons (2007-08) … Served as a kicker and wide receiver … Spent the summer of 2009 in Brazil playing with a third division club.
Zach Kingsley
(midfield) – A Northwest native from Spokane, Wash. … Played collegiate soccer at the University of Washington, where he was an All-Pac-10 second-team selection following his senior season in 2001 … Played three seasons in Major League Soccer with the Colorado Rapids from 2002-04 … Fans may remember him from a loan stint with the USL Seattle Sounders in 2002 … Recently, has played overseas in Asia.
Jordan Raybould
(midfield) – Played his collegiate career at Yale … Was voted the team’s captain for the 2009 season … Played in all 34 games over his final two seasons on campus … Named an All-Ivy League honorable mention following his sophomore season in 2007 … Started 10 games as a freshman and earned Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors … Brother, Ryan, played with Timbers midfielder Johan Claesson in Sweden for Gefle IF.
Brendon Minors
(mid./def.) – A member of the Bermuda National Team pool … Was a member of the Bermuda Hogges during the 2008 USL Second Division season … Previously played in the Bermuda Premier League … Played three of his four collegiate seasons at Georgia State from 2000-02 … Was an all-conference academic selection and helped GSU clinch the 2000 conference championship.
Brad Peetoom
(defender) – A four-time Defensive MVP and two-year team captain at Syracuse … During sophomore season, was a part of a defensive unit which recorded a 0.89 goals-against average – the fifth-best in school history … Was a part of 19 shutouts during his collegiate career … Following his senior season in 2007, was named to the Lowe’s Senior All-America second team and All-Big EAST third team … Was a member of the U-17 and U-20 Canadian National Teams.
Kyle Russell
(defender) – Was a consistent member of the backline during his college career at Coastal Carolina University, playing in 78 games … Served as the Chanticleer team captain his senior season in 2008 … College accolades include first team All-Big South Conference honors (2007, 2008), Big South All-Tournament team (2005, 2007-08) and NSCAA All-Region team (2008) … Invited to the 2009 Major League Soccer combine … Led the Michigan Bucks to the Premier Development League finals in 2007.
