Cougars select five in MISL College Draft, three from California schools
January 29, 2008 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
California Cougars News Release
Stockton, CA - Jan. 29, 2008 - The California Cougars, of the Major Indoor Soccer League, announce today the selection of five players, three from California schools, in the 2008 MISL College Draft. The Cougars used the fourth overall pick in the territorial round to choose University of California at Davis forward Nicholas Lind and the fourth pick in the first round to choose defender Brad Peetoom of Syracuse University.
The full selections are as follows:
Territorial Round:
Nicholas Lind - F, University of California at Davis
Round 1:
Brad Peetoom - D, Syracuse University
Round 2:
Ismael Ibarra - F, San Jose State University
Round 3:
Brian Grazier - M, St. Louis University
Round 4:
Eli Millan - M, Sacramento State University
The Draft consisted of one Territorial Round and four Numerical Rounds. The order of selection was based on each team's win-loss percentage from their last completed regular season (2006-07), plus their win-loss percentage through games of Sunday, January 20, 2008. The MISL's three expansion teams chose first in each round. Orlando, Monterrey and New Jersey had the first three picks of all five rounds.
"We originally had a plan to draft all California players like the last two seasons," said California Cougars head coach Bernie Lilavois. "But, we opted to change things this year after a few recommendations came our way regarding a couple of players outside of California. The idea is to get these guys to Stockton quickly and get them some playing time with the Pumas to see what they can do."
Lind was one of four UCD players named to the Big West Conference Second Team in 2007. He led the Aggies with four assists, 18 shots on goal and two game-winning scores. Lind finished second on the UC Davis roster with five goals and 14 points. He had three goals against Cal State Northridge in their conference meetings last season. Coach Lilavois spent part of his collegiate soccer career at Northridge. Lind was born in Mission Viejo and graduated Tesoro High School in 2004.
"We like Lind a lot. He's a fast, good skill player who can find the back of the net. We also like his pedigree, he's related to Jurgen Klinsmann, a very talented player and manager from Germany."
"(Peetoom) is one of the two recommendations I received. He's a big strong defender that can go forward."
Peetoom, a native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, is a three-time Defensive MVP and two-time captain. He started in all 61 matches at Syracuse and helped the Orange defense to 18 straight shutouts dating back to his freshman year in 2004. Peetoom was a finalist for Lowe's Senior CLASS award in 2007.
Three other picks followed after the selection of Peetoom in the first round. The Cougars chose San Jose State forward Ismael Ibarra in the second round, St. Louis University midfielder Brian Grazier in the third and Sacramento State University midfielder Eli Millan in the final round.
Ibarra was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division I All-Far West Region first team after his 2007 senior season at San Jose State. He led the Spartan offense with 21 points in 19 games and was the team's co-MVP. He had a team high nine goals and three assists.
Grazier was the second of the two players specifically recommended to coach Lilavois. "He's a good player who can play many positions, which is a plus in the indoor game. He should be a very good indoor player with us."
Grazier was selected 47th in the 2008 Major League Soccer Superdraft by the Colorado Rapids. Grazier finished his collegiate career at St. Louis University with one goal and seven assists in 72 games from 2003-07. He was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team in 2007.
Sacramento State midfielder Eli Millan was taken by the Cougars in the final round. He started and played in 19 games for the Hornets last season. His lone goal was the game winner against UNLV on October 12, 2007. "He's a local product that possesses quick indoor skills," said Lilavois. Millan joins Matt McDougall and Pedro Lupercio as recent draft picks made by the Cougars from Sacramento State.
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