Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs in MLS - Okoli Makes Professional Debut
3/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
March 14, 2014
By Currie McFayden, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeMSoccer)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - With the MLS season kicking off last weekend, 16 former Demon Deacons are back in action across the pro circuit, including recent draftees Luca Gimenez, Jared Watts, Tolani Ibikunle and Chris Duvall.
Homegrown signee Sean Okoli played the most prominent role on opening weekend, coming off the bench to help Seattle score a late goal to beat Sporting Kansas City.
Two more former Wake Forest players, Akira Fitzgerald and Zack Schilawski, will begin their season on April 12 as members of the local Carolina RailHawks, who compete in the North American Soccer League.
Here is a player-by-player look at the current Demon Deacons in professional soccer:
Anthony Arena - Houston Dynamo
Entering his second season with the Houston Dynamo, Arena did not see the field in the squad's season-opening 4-0 victory over the New England Revolution. The second-year defender made his debut at the end of last season after being selected in the 2013 Supplemental Draft and will look to work his way into the regular lineup for the Dynamo in 2014.
Corben Bone, Brian Carroll, Michael Lahoud and Luca Gimenez - Philadelphia Union
The quartet of former Demon Deacons makes Philadelphia one of three MLS teams with multiple Wake Forest alumni - including their coach John Hackworth. Bone and Gimenez are newcomers to the squad, while Carroll and Lahoud each garnered starts for the Union during the 2013 season.
In Philadelphia's season opener against the Portland Timbers, Carroll made the start and played all 90 minutes in the midfield. After logging a career-high 2,969 minutes last season, it appears that he will be called upon just as often in 2014 as a solid piece in the middle of the Union's lineup.
Sam Cronin - San Jose Earthquakes
The lone Earthquakes player to start all 34 matches last season, Cronin again figures to be an important role player for his squad in 2014. The midfielder netted two goals and dished out four assists last year while logging just under 3,000 minutes on the pitch, easily a career-high mark. A member of Wake Forest's 2007 national championship team, Cronin and the Earthquakes will kick off the regular season against Real Salt Lake on March 15 at 10:30 p.m.
Chris Duvall - New York Red Bulls
Selected 22nd overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, Duvall appears poised to make a strong impact at the right back position for the Red Bulls. The rookie has been lauded by Head Coach Mike Petke, saying that he is set to have a "nice little battle" with incumbent starter Kosuke Kimura along the back line.
"We're happy with the pick that we made. Chris has an opportunity to come in - nothing is guaranteed just like all my players - and impress us," Petke said of the former Demon Deacon. The Red Bulls opened their season with a 4-1 setback against the Vancouver Whitecaps on March 8.
Tolani Ibikunle and Jared Watts - Colorado Rapids
Like Duvall, Ibikunle and Watts were both selected by the Rapids in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. While Ibikunle has yet to see the field for Colorado, Watts appeared in all four preseason contests and garnered one start against Chivas USA on Feb. 26. The midfielder drew a yellow card at the end of the first half in what proved to be a scoreless draw between the two sides.
The Rapids will kick off their regular season as they travel to take on the New York Red Bulls at 4:00 p.m. on March 15.
Stephen Keel - FC Dallas
After joining FC Dallas in the 2012 MLS Re-Entry Draft, Keel made five starts in eight appearances for the club during the 2013 season. He saw just under 500 minutes of playing time and notched his first career goal against San Jose on Oct. 26. FC Dallas opened its season with a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Impact and will be in action again on March 15 at 8:30 p.m. for a clash with Sporting KC.
Collin Martin and Jalen Robinson - D.C. United
Martin and Robinson both inked homegrown contracts with D.C. United in the last year after spending much of their young careers with the squad's developmental program. Martin appeared in seven contests with four starts after signing in July 2013, logging his first professional assist in a 3-1 victory over Montreal on Aug. 3.
Both are currently are currently on loan with the Richmond Kickers in the USL Professional Division.
Ike Opara - Sporting Kansas City
Opara saw the most extensive action of his career with Sporting KC during the 2013 season, logging a career-high 1,397 minutes of playing time with 15 starts in 18 appearances. The Wake Forest product also double his career goal total by netting three on just six shots on goal. Opara will be an asset for the squad along the back line again in 2014. In the first match of the season, he came on as a substitute late as Sporting KC suffered a dramatic 1-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders on March 8.
Sean Okoli - Seattle Sounders
Another homegrown MLS product, Okoli provided an instant spark in his first match with the Sounders. After entering late as a substitution, the rookie was involved in a scramble in front of Sporting KC's net that ultimately led to Seattle's game-winning goal by Chad Barrett. One of the youngest forwards on the team, Okoli has the potential to develop into a game-changing talent for Seattle in 2014.
Michael Parkhurst - Columbus Crew
Playing his first minutes in the MLS since the 2008 season, Parkhurst joined a back line made up of three newcomers for the Crew in their opener against D.C. United. The seasoned veteran stepped up in the middle of the defense, however, and helped the unit to hold their opponents to just a single shot on goal and a 3-0 shutout on March 8. Parkhurst, who was tabbed as Columbus's captain prior to the opener, has been a mainstay as a reserve for the U.S. National Team and will await word on a potential invite for the 2014 World Cup roster this summer.
James Riley - L.A. Galaxy
Riley was a late offseason signing by the Galaxy, inking a contract with the squad on March 4, just four days before their season opener. Despite being a late addition to the roster, Riley's leadership impressed head coach Bruce Arena so much so that he was immediately inserted into the starting lineup in place of Todd Dunivant, who has been hampered by a hamstring injury. The Wake Forest product turned in a full 90 minutes on the field in the 1-0 heartbreaker against Real Salt Lake, an excellent performance from the nine-year veteran in his Galaxy debut.
"He's a good player," Arena said of Riley. "He's going to be a valuable member of our team this season."
Akira Fitzgerald and Zack Schilawski - Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
Fitzgerald and Schilawski will both return as members of the local Carolina RailHawks in 2014 when the NASL season begins on April 12. Fitzgerald, entering his fourth season with the squad, made 25 appearances between the pipes for the RailHawks in 2013 and is solidified as the starting goalkeeper heading into the season. Schilawski, an attacker, netted two goals and played just under 2,000 minutes in 24 appearances during the 2013 season.
The RailHawks will open their season on the road at 7:30 p.m. on April 12 as they clash with the Indy Eleven in Indianapolis, Ind.
