Force Selects Seven Players in Amateur Draft

December 18, 2002 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Cleveland Force News Release


CLEVELAND, OHIO - The Cleveland Force has selected seven players in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Amateur Draft. Force President & General Manager Paul Garofolo and Head Coach Andy Schmetzer announced the team's selections this afternoon.

With the territorial selection, Cleveland selected 5-10 defender Adam Guren out of Duke University. Guren, a native of Kirtland Hills and a graduate of Hawken High School recorded two goals and five assist for a total of nine points in his four seasons at Duke. In addition, Adam was two-time Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Honor Roll selection. While at Hawken, Guren was a four-year letter winner, team captain as a senior, a three-time All-Conference selection and a two-time All-Cuyahoga County selection. This marks the second player selected out of Hawken for the Cleveland franchise as the team selected goalkeeper Nick DiCello in a previous draft

In the first round and the 10th overall selection, the Force selected Rhian Dodds, a 5-10 midfielder, out of Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania. Dodds, a native of Hamilton, Ontario, was selected the Northeast Conference Player of the Year after his senior campaign. Rhian played in 17 games and recorded one goal and added 11 assists for a total of 13 points in his final season. Dodds was seventh in the nation with his 11 assists.

Cleveland acquired the 12th overall pick from Kansas City in a trade and selected Joel (pronounced Jo-elle) Bailey out of Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia. Bailey, a forward, led the NCAA Division II in scoring in the 2000 season. Joel was named NSCAA/Adidas Division II All-American in 2000 and 2001, NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region First Team in 2000, 2001 and 2002 as well as All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First-Team all four seasons.

After acquiring the 13th overall selection from Dallas in a trade, the Force selected Guido Christofori out of Syracuse University in New York. Christofori, a 6-1 midfielder/forward, appeared in 46 games after transferring to Syracuse from West Virginia. In three seasons at Syracuse, Guido recorded 11 goals and added 13 assists for a total of 35 points. Christofori was selected to the All-Big East squad each season at Syracuse as well as All-New York Region in his final two seasons. Christofori's brother Mario was also a pro as he played for the Rochester Rhinos.

With its second round pick (18th pick), Cleveland selected 6-3 forward Mike Ritch out of Auburn University of Montgomery. Ritch appeared in all 23 games during his senior season and recorded 29 goals and added 15 assists for a total of 73 points. Ritch was a three-year letter winner while at Auburn-Montgomery.

In the third round (26th selection), the Force selected 5-11 defender Ryan Hall out of Syracuse University. Hall appeared in 61 of 69 games during his collegiate career and recorded six goals and seven assists for a total of 19 points.

In the fourth and final round (34th pick), Cleveland selected 6-0 defender Ryan Smith out of the NCAA Division II National Champion Sonoma State University in California. Smith appeared in every game during his career after transferring from Santa Clara University and had three goals and three assists in his final season. Ryan was named to the All-Tournament team during the NCAA Division II Championships.



Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from December 18, 2002


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