Demon Deacons in the Pros
2/22/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Feb. 22, 2012
Follow Wake Forest Soccer on Twitter
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The 2012 MLS preseason is in full gear, which means it's an appropriate time to check in on the Wake Forest men's soccer alums making news in the professional ranks.
At the end of the 2011 season, Wake Forest had an impressive 20 former players continuing to play soccer professionally around the world. The Demon Deacons have four players continuing their career overseas with Michael Parkhurst and Marcus Tracy currently playing in Denmark. Brian Edwards is on roster in Sweden and Justin Moose is also playing in Thailand. Additionally, there are 14 Deacs on roster in the MLS.
Michael Lahoud has been enjoying a strong preseason with new teammate James Riley for Chivas USA, while Stephen Keel earned a new contract from the New York Red Bulls. Scott Sealy also found a new club, signing with FC Dallas, and San Jose Earthquakes' defender Ike Opara was recently named to the U.S. U-23 squad as he ramps up his effort to make the next U.S. Olympic squad.
Here are some of the early 2012 highlights:
Carroll Clone
NBC Sports Network Commercial featuring Carroll
Brian Carroll is arguably one of the most underrated players in the MLS and has led his team to the postseason in all nine of his years in the league. As he enters his 10th MLS camp with the Philadelphia Union, the midfielder has a new protégé who - see for yourself - looks exactly like him.
Keel Gets New Deal, Chronicles Cancun
On January 18, the New York Red Bulls announced they had reached agreement on a new contract with Stephen Keel.
"Stephen had an excellent season last year and was a contributor in our postseason run," said Red Bulls General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Soler. "He provides us a physical and experienced option in central defense and we are pleased that we were able to sign him to a new contract."
After signing with New York in March, Keel set career-highs in games played (16), starts (13) and assists (2). He also started all three of the Red Bulls' postseason matches.
The side has been doing its preseason training and team-building in Cancun this year, and Keel has been documenting the experience for the Red Bulls' official website. Check it out here: Keel Cam
Lahoud's Strong Preseason, New Teammate
Michael Lahoud has continued a strong preseason with Chivas USA, contributing two goals in the side's last five matches. Most recently, Lahoud tallied in a 3-2 defeat against L.A. Galaxy on Feb. 16.
Chivas USA added another former Deacon, James Riley, to its roster in late November after he was selected by the Montreal Impact in the MLS Expansion Draft and traded shortly after. Now 29, the veteran right back has appeared in 178 MLS matches and had been with the Seattle Sounders for the past three seasons. Riley was named the club's Humanitarian of the Year two years in a row.
Opara Starts, Scores for U-23 Squad
Ike Opara has been in the headlines recently after earning a U.S. U-23 nod on February 16. The roster convened on Feb. 19 for a 10-day training camp and two scrimmages in Frisco, Texas and will conclude with a match against Mexico's U-23 National Team on Wednesday, Feb. 29 at FC Dallas Stadium.
In the side's first scrimmage, Opara started and scored the equalizer on a first half header via a Freddy Adu corner kick. The U-23's went on to a 2-1 victory.
An athletic and imposing defender, Opara was a member of the Deacs' 2007 NCAA Championship team and played in 65 career matches for Wake Forest, scoring nine goals. He was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons (2008 and 2009) and was drafted in the first round (3rd overall) by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2010 MLS Draft.
Sealy Signs with FC Dallas
Sealy Looks Toward Comeback with FC Dallas
After scoring 26 goals during his first three pro seasons, Scott Sealy has battled injuries of late but has found a new home with FC Dallas and will be attempting to be one of the club's 2012 answers at forward.
Fitzgerald Buoys Baltimore Blast
After signing with the Major Indoor Soccer League's Baltimore Blast in late October, former goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald has earned playing time recently and holds a 3-1 record in net for the Eastern Division champs, recently locking up a playoff berth.
Parkhurst Camps with USNT, Capped for 10th Time
Former Wake Forest All-American defender Michael Parkhurst spent most of January in camp with the U.S. National Team, and earned his 10th career cap in a 1-0 U.S. win over Venezuela.
Parkhurst was a member of the Wake Forest men's soccer team from 2002-04. A starter in all 62 games he played, Parkhurst was twice named all-South Region and was a first-team All-America choice by Soccer America in 2004. He was also named a second-team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in 2003 and 2004.
Parkhurst also represented the United States in the 2008 Summer Olympics and was named the 2007 MLS Defender of the Year during his four year tenure with the New England Revolution. He now plays professionally in Denmark as a key defender for FC Nordsjaelland, which has won the Danish Cup in two consecutive years.
White on Trial with Revs
Jeremiah White, 29, has come full circle and is on trial with the New England Revolution this spring after being originally drafted by the New England Revolution in the third round (23rd overall) in the 2004 Major League Soccer Draft.
He scored the game winner as the Revolution triumphed over the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2 during the first game of the Desert Diamond Cup on Wednesday, Feb. 22.
The speedy midfielder scored 37 goals and 19 assists at Wake Forest from 2000-02 and has also played in Serbia with OFK Beograd, Greece with Panserraikos, France with FC Gueugnon Denmark with AGF Aarhus, Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq, and most recently in Poland with GKS Belchatów. He made an appearance with the U.S. National Team in 2008.
Thompson Hosts New Soccer Camp
Wells Thompson of the Colorado Rapids and a quartet of former Wake Forest men's soccer standouts were back in their home state, taking take over Forsyth Country Day High School for a weekend-long boys soccer camp in early January.
Thompson's camp, called Wells Thompson Signature Soccer, was staffed by four other former Wake Forest stars playing professionally. Among those who were in town to help with the camp were D.C. United's Austin da Luz, Zack Schilawski of the New England Revolution and Cody Arnoux of Real Salt Lake. Brian Edwards, who plays internationally in Sweden for Degerfors IF instructed the goalkeepers. The four players featured prominently during Wake Forest's run to the 2007 NCAA national championship.
