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Heat Makes Woodworth Top Pick In Draft

December 17, 2002 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Harrisburg Heat News Release


Harrisburg, PA - The Harrisburg Heat chose Messiah College midfielder Hayden Woodworth with the first overall pick in the Territorial Round of the 2002 Major Indoor Soccer League Amateur Draft, held via teleconference on Tuesday. The Heat, also selecting first in the four subsequent standard rounds of the draft, went on to select a goalkeeper, a forward, and two midfielders before the day was out. Three of the Heat's five picks were named to Pennsylvania all-state teams while in high school.

Woodworth, a native of Boothwyn, PA, was a key cog in Messiah's 2002 Division III title run. The graduate of Garnet Valley High School scored 6 goals and 19 points for the Falcons this past season. The crafty midfielder was one of five Messiah players named to the All-Commonwealth Conference Team in '02, and was named the 2000 Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year when Messiah won its first NCAA Division III title. Woodworth was twice named a first-team NCAA Division III All-American (2000 and 2002).

With its first-round selection (ninth overall), the Heat tabbed goalkeeper Brian Rowland from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Rowland, a native of Toronto, went 10-6-2 with a .086 goals against average for the Retrievers in 2002. A four-year starter, the 5-11, 170-pound keeper has played for both the U-18 and U-20 Team Canada squads, and is included in the Canadian Olympic Team Pool. Rowland, named to the All-Northeast Conference Team last season, leaves UMBC as the school's all-time leader with 24 shutouts.

Harrisburg used its second-round selection on lethal target man Byron Carmichael of Marshall University. Carmichael, a 6-1, 170-pound forward, was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year after a 2002 campaign in which he led the league in goals (15) and points (32). A native of Lumberton, NJ and a graduate of Rancocas Valley High School, Carmichael ends his college career as the MAC's all-time leading goal-scorer (58) and point-producer (128).

University of Pittsburgh midfielder Bryan Hopper was the Heat's third-round pick. The 5-9, 150-pound two-way stalwart scored 3 goals and 9 points for the Panthers in 2002. A native of North Versailles, PA, Hopper finished his Pitt career with 15 points in 60 games.

The Heat used its final selection to pick midfielder/forward Troy Sauer of Messiah. Like Woodworth, Sauer was part of Messiah's two Division III titles (2000 and 2002). A native of Middleburg, PA and a former Harrisburg Patriot-News Big Eleven pick (1998), Sauer scored was the Falcons' second-leading scorer in 2002 with 8 goals and 27 points.

Woodworth, Hopper, and Sauer were all selected to the 1998 Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association All-State First Team while in high school. Sauer was also a first-team selection in 1997.

For a complete recap of the 2002 MISL Amateur Draft, visit the league's official website, www.misl.net.

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