Whitecaps draft pair of B.C. natives
Published on January 26, 2007 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, B.C. - The Vancouver Whitecaps FC today selected forward Riley O'Neill of Campbell River, B.C. and defender Nigel Marples of Delta, B.C. in the 2007 United Soccer Leagues First Division College Player Draft.
Round Overall Player Position School
1st 10th Riley O'Neill Forward University of Kentucky
2nd 23rd Nigel Marples Defender Towson University
Riley O'Neill
Forward
6' 2", 190 lbs.
September 9, 1985 - Campbell River, British Columbia
University of Kentucky
"Riley is a very good athlete who is strong and has a lot of pace," said Whitecaps head coach Bob Lilley. "He was one of the leading university goal scorers in the States and has the potential to be a very good professional player."
Riley O'Neill enjoyed a very successful career at the University of Kentucky while majoring in physical therapy. During his four-years with the Wildcats he became Kentucky's all-time leader in shots and game winning goals while ranking in the top three in goals, assists and points. Last year as a senior, O'Neill set a school record with 17 goals, including seven game winners, to lead Conference USA in scoring with 38 points. O'Neill's Wildcats finished second in Conference USA with a 14-5-2 overall record and a national ranking of 13 at the end of the regular season. For his efforts he earned three Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week awards, was a member of the first-team All-Conference USA and first-team All-Midwest Region.
Last year O'Neill was a member of the Whitecaps reserve team that won the Pacific Coast Soccer League and in 2005 he played with Canada's U-20 men's national team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Netherlands 2005. In total he has accumulated 16 international caps and two goals for Canada's U-20 men's national team.
The native of Campbell River was the captain of his high school soccer team at Timberline Secondary School and led the team to the 2001 Provincial AAA title while being named tournament MVP
O'Neill's University of Kentucky Career Stats
Year GP-S G A PTS SH YC-RC GW
2006 20-16 17 4 38 69 3-0 7
2005 15-10 4 5 13 31 3-1 2
2004 18-16 0 4 4 30 3-0 0
2003 20-14 7 3 17 37 1-0 3
Totals 73-56 28 16 72 167 10-1 12
Nigel Marples
Defender
6' 0", 170 lbs.
November 3, 1985 - Delta, British Columbia
Towson University - Maryland
"Nigel has done well in the USA university system," said Lilley. "He reads the game very well, is technically sound and has good awareness."
Nigel Marples was a four year starter and two year captain at Towson University. Last year, the central defender lead Towson to their best season in school history with a 15-2-3 record which included the eighth ranked defence in NCAA Division 1 with a 0.62 Goals Against Average. Marples was named as a first team All-South Atlantic region, first team All-Colonial Athletic Association and second team National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas College Scholar All-America team. Marples majored in chemistry with a 3.75 G.P.A.
Locally, Marples was a member of the Abbotsford Rangers last season playing in nine games for 810 minutes. The Delta native attended North Delta Senior Secondary School and led them to a provincial championship in 2002.
Marples' Towson University Career Stats
Year GP-S G A PTS SH GW
2006 19-19 0 0 0 5 0
2005 19-19 0 0 0 7 0
2004 17-17 0 2 2 2 0
2003 17-13 1 0 2 6 0
Totals 72-68 1 2 4 27 0
Whitecaps full season tickets start at just $199 and include all Whitecaps Men's and Women's regular season and playoff matches at Swangard, priority purchase rights for the proposed Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium and much more. For more information call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or visit www.whitecapsfc.com.
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