Wake Forest Athletics
Thompson, Solle, Curfman Taken in MLS SuperDraft
1/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Jan. 12, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -
Former Wake Forest men's soccer players Wells Thompson and Ryan Solle were both selected by the New England Revolution and Steven Curfman was picked by Real Salt Lake in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft on Friday at the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind. The Revs traded up to take Thompson with the fifth overall pick while Solle was picked with the 12th selection of the second round (25th overall). Curfman was selected with the fourth pick in the third round. Thompson, the highest Deacon ever taken in the MLS draft, and Solle join former Wake Forest teammates Michael Parkhurst and James Riley in New England.
"I'm very happy for all three guys," Wake Forest head coach Jay Vidovich said after the draft. "They have dedicated their careers to getting to this point. This is a tremendous opportunity for them to get to the next level of their careers. I certainly wish them all the best of luck and couldn't be prouder of everything they've done and achieved."
"It's guys like these why we're winning games and going for championships," Vidovich continued. "They are quality players and quality individuals. They have really helped us take our program to the next level."
Thompson started and played 24 of the team's 25 games this season and led the squad in goals with seven. Five of his seven goals were game-winning strikes. The Winston-Salem native added three assists as well to give him 17 points, good for second on the team behind Curfman. One of the most dynamic players in the ACC, Thompson was named to the 2006 ACC All-Tournament Team and was also an ACC All-Freshman Team selection in his first year as a Deacon. For his career, the midfielder notched 16 goals and 10 assists.
"New England was the best choice for me, especially with James and Parky being up there," Thompson commented. "Going fifth was a huge shock. I couldn't ask for a better situation. Solle is one of my best friends. Those guys already being up there is going to be a great asset for us to help us get accustomed to the league and the area. I just talked with the coaches, and they are fantastic. I couldn't be happier."
One of the best distributors of the ball in the country, Solle holds the Wake Forest single season assist record with 13 which he set as a junior in 2005. The central midfielder became more of a goal-scoring threat as a senior when he notched five. He added four assists as well, giving him a career total of 27, good for second on the school's all-time list behind former teammate and current D.C. United midfielder Justin Moose. Solle was a 2006 first-team All-South Region honoree by the NSCAA and was also named to the All-ACC First Team. Before the season, Solle was tabbed a Soccer America Preseason All-American and voted to College Soccer News' Preseason All-America Second Team. As a junior, he was awarded All-ACC second team, Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Year (first) and NSCAA All-South Region second team.
"It just feels great to get drafted," said Solle. "Even before the draft, I was hoping to go to New England because of James and Parky being there. I really like their style of play, and they have a great organization. Going up there with a teammate is going to be great. I'm just so happy for the both us."
Curfman, one of the best restart specialists in the country this season, led the the team in points with 20 on the season (6g, 8a). The midfielder scored masterful free kick goals against Towson and Santa Clara in the NCAA Tournament to help the Deacons in those victories. He also registered two assists against Hofstra in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and was the team leader in shots with 50. Curfman was named to the ACC All-Tournament team as a junior and to the ACC All-Freshman team in his rookie campaign.
"It's a great feeling to get drafted," Curfman said. "It's a reward for all the hard work I've put into soccer throughout my life. I feel really good about going into a situation where I'm already familiar with the coaching staff and some of the younger players on the team. I couldn't be happier"
All three players had integral roles this year as they led the team to its best season ever. The 2006 Deacons broke the school record for wins with 18 and advanced to its first ever College Cup. The team also won its third ACC regular season championship in the past five years and advanced to the finals of the ACC Tournament before falling to Duke in overtime.
Thompson, Solle and Curfman are the ninth, 10th and 11th Demon Deacons to get drafted over the last four years. Thompson is the fourth Deac to get drafted in the first round joining Moose (2006), Parkhurst (2005) and Scott Sealy (2005). Additionally, Riley and Amir Lowery each were selected in the 2005 draft, while Jeremiah White and William Hesmer were chosen in the 2004 SuperDraft. Brian Carroll was a second round pick of D.C. United in 2003.
The ACC was well represented in the draft with the first six picks all coming from conference schools.
- WakeForestSports.com -
