Ignition selects six during MISL College Draft

March 8, 2007 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Detroit Ignition News Release


(Southfield, Mich., March 8, 2007) - The Detroit Ignition has announced the selection of Michigan State defender Greg Janicki with the club's first selection in the 2007 Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) College Draft, which was held via teleconference on Wednesday.

Detroit selected Janicki with the eighth overall selection during the territorial round then added five additional players in four subsequent rounds as the club builds depth for its roster going into a 2007-08 MISL season.

"Looking forward towards our second season, I strongly feel this draft class will provide our club with a wealth of new talent," stated Ignition head coach Mark Pulisic. "Not only were we fortunate enough to obtain a number of talented players, but we also gained a few local products that I hope will have the chance to play in front fans here in Detroit down the road."

Janicki finished his career as a Spartan starting as a defender in 57 consecutive games. He earned All-Big Ten First Team honors and recognition as a second team member of the NSCAA/adidas All-Great Lakes Region team. A graduate of Anchor Bay High School in New Baltimore, Janicki helped Michigan State to a 10-6-2 record in his senior season.

With its first numerical pick, the Ignition tabbed Rochester, MI native Nate Norman out of the University of Notre Dame. A four time Big East academic honoree, Norman registered seven goals and 13 assists over 82 games in his collegiate career in South Bend. The midfielder and Rochester Adams graduate received national honors as a third-team all-American selection by Top Drawer Soccer in 2006.

With its second-round pick, Detroit selected midfielder Allan Nekuda from William Jewell College in Liberty, MO. Nekuda played an integral role in the Cardinals' 18-3-2 season that included a trip to the NAIA Final Four and an undefeated run in the HAAC Conference. Nekuda, the team's co-captain, was also recognized as a 2006 NAIA First-Team All-American and ranked amongst the League's leaders in assists with 13.

Goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, of James Madison University, was the Ignition's third-round choice. The 6-3, 200-pound netminder started 70 of 72 over his career, including all 17 games in 2006 where he posted a 1.01 goals against average. During his four years as a member of the Dukes, Trapp tallied 26 shutouts and was honored for his play in 2006 with selections to the Charlotte JAKO Invitational all-tournament team and VCU Classic all-tournament team.

With the club's first selection in the fourth round, the Ignition chose another local product in University of Detroit-Mercy midfielder Vahid Assadpour. A three-time All-Horizon League selection, Assadpour finished his senior season as the League co-leader in assists per game at 0.44.

Detroit concluded its second college draft class with the acquisition of the rights to midfielder Craig Neal of Ohio Wesleyan University. The 5-9, 165-pounder from Powell, OH was named North Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2006 with 10 goals and four assists while helping his university to the national semifinals of the NCAA Division III tournament.

The Detroit Ignition is a member club of the Major Indoor Soccer League, competing in the club's inaugural campaign for the 2006-07 season. Information regarding Ignition season, group, and individual tickets can be obtained by calling the club at 1-888-436-GOAL (4625), by visiting the team's official Internet property, www.detroitignition.com, by calling TicketMaster at 248-645-6666, or by using www.ticketmaster.com.

The Detroit Ignition is a subsidiary of the Hantz Group. The Hantz Group is a full-service financial holding company with 24 locations in Michigan and Ohio serving over 18,000 clients with over $1.6 billion in assets under management. With over 500 employees the full service company provides financial planning, tax planning, investment products, and mortgages through its affiliates.



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