Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs In The Pros: June 29
6/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeMSoccer)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- With professional soccer in full swing, 20 former Demon Deacons are currently in action professionally. Take a look at how each of them has done this season for their team.
MLS
Brian Carroll -- Philadelphia Union
Brian Carroll has appeared in 15 games this season while making 14 starts for the Philadelphia Union. His one goal thus far came against the Colorado Rapids and it was a big one, scoring in stoppage time (90+2) on May 28 to salvage a crucial draw for the Union. The strike came just five minutes after fellow Demon Deacon Sam Cronin scored to put the Rapids ahead 1-0 just five minutes prior. Also during the 2016 season, Carroll has broken the team's record for most appearances and became only the eighth player in MLS history to break the 350 appearance mark.
Sam Cronin -- Colorado Rapids
Sam Cronin has started 16 games for the Rapids in 2016 but has come on of late with a goal and an assist in his last three games. Overall, he has notched one goal with two assists on the season. In those 16 games, Cronin has played the full 90 minutes for the squad in each contest. He scored his lone goal thus far on May 28 against the Philadelphia Union. The goal, which came in the 87th minute, put the Rapids ahead 1-0, but fellow Wake Forest alum Brian Carroll scored the equalizer in stoppage time to knot the game at 1-1. One of his two assists came on June 18, when he set up Marco Pappa in the 89th minute for the game-winner against the Chicago Fire.
Chris Duvall -- New York Red Bulls
Chris Duvall has appeared in 12 games this year for the New York Red Bulls, having started eight of them. As a defender, Duvall has taken three shots on the season. Last time out on June 25, Duvall started and went the full 90 minutes as his side drew 1-1 with the Columbus Crew.
Jack Harrison -- NYCFC
After being selected No. 1 overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft in January 2016, Jack Harrison has cracked the NYCFC starting lineup after missing more than two months at the start of the season with an injury. Since, though, Harrison has one goal and one assist while making three starts in four appearances since May 21. The former Deacon scored his first-career professional goal against Real Salt Lake on June 2, a 3-2 loss for NYCFC. He later assisted on David Villa's MLS-leading 11th goal of the season as the squad topped the Philadelphia Union 3-2 on June 18.
Collin Martin -- D.C. United
Martin has yet to see any time in 2016 playing for D.C. United. After his freshman season at Wake Forest in 2012, Martin has played with both D.C. United and the Richmond Kickers.
Ike Opara -- Sporting Kansas City
Ike Opara has started seven of his 11 contests in 2016 and has contributed to three shutouts on defense. Back on April 9, Opara made his season debut as a first-half sub and helped Sporting KC to a 2-0 shutout of the New York Red Bulls. In just 49 minutes of action on the day, Opara became the first MLS player in 2016 to have eight interceptions, five clearances and four tackles in a game. For his efforts, he earned a start next time out against the Colorado Rapids on April 13.
Michael Parkhurst -- Columbus Crew
Captain of the Columbus Crew, Michael Parkhurst has started all 14 games for Crew SC. With one assist on the year on May 7 against Montreal, Parkhurst has started every regular-season game while helping to post clean sheets on four occasions this year. In his 14 appearances, Parkhurst has played the full 90 minutes 12 times while going at least 85 in the other two matches.
Jalen Robinson -- D.C. United
Jalen Robinson made his MLS debut on June 18 in a scoreless draw at Houston when he came in as a sub late in the contest. Next time out on June 25, Robinson earned his first start and went the full 90 minutes for D.C. United in a 2-0 victory over the New England Revolution. The appearances came after Robinson spent time earlier this year with the Richmond Kickers, making two starts for the team.
Jared Watts -- Colorado Rapids
In 2016, Jared Watts has appeared in seven games while making five starts on the campaign. Last time out on June 22, Watts started and played the full 90 minutes.
USL
Corben Bone -- FC Cincinnati
Corben Bone has been a mainstay in FC Cincinnati's lineup with 14 appearances to date. He's proved his worth to head coach John Harkes -- the father of current Wake Forest senior Ian Harkes -- with four assists already this season, helping FC Cincinnati outscore its opponents 21-13 thus far this year to sit third in the USL's Eastern Conference standings.
Sam Fink -- Saint Louis FC
Having played in 14 of the team's 15 games thus far, Sam Fink has accumulated 1,172 minutes of action thus far on the season. Currently, Saint Louis FC sits sixth in the USL's Western Conference standings at 6-5-4.
Andy Lubahn -- Louisville City FC
Andy Lubahn has appeared in 15 of Louisville City FC's 16 games thus far and has helped the side out to a 10-1-5 record to open the season, which places Louisville City atop the USL Eastern Conference standings with 35 points. On the campaign, Lubahn has scored three goals and has an assist for seven points. His three goals on the year have come in just nine shots thus far.
Justin Moose -- Wilmington Hammerheads
Playing for the Wilmington Hammerheads, Justin Moose has appeared in all 14 of the team's games this season and has taken seven shots on the year. Currently, the Hammerheads stand at 4-5-5 on the year and are 10th in the USL's Eastern Conference standings.
Ben Newnam -- Louisville City FC
Ben Newnam has appeared in 11 games for the USL Eastern Conference's top team. On the season, Newnam has notched one goal on five shots and one assist for three points from his position on defense.
Sean Okoli -- FC Cincinnati
In his first season with expansion team FC Cincinnati, Sean Okoli is tied for fifth in the USL with seven goals on the season and has helped the side accumulate 28 points in 14 games thus far with an 8-2-4 record. Having played in all 14 games, Okoli is four goals ahead for the team lead. His 1,190 minutes played this season puts him third on the team. Earlier in the season, Okoli scored what was later named the USL Goal of the Month for April.
Ross Tomaselli -- FC Cincinnati
Defender Ross Tomaselli has appeared in 13 of FC Cincinnati's 14 matches on the season thus far and has helped the side jump to third place in the USL's Eastern Conference standings in its first season of competition. Throughout the season, Tomaselli has taken two shots in 755 minutes of action.
NASL
Austin da Luz -- Carolina RailHawks
Starting nine of the team's first 10 games thus far, Austin da Luz is already just one goal off his career-high having notched three on the young season. In his nine games, da Luz has played all 90 minutes on seven occasions. Of his three goals, two of them came in the air via header.
Akira Fitzgerald -- Carolina RailHawks
Appearing in seven games thus far while accumulating 630 minutes between the pipes, Akira Fitzgerald has posted three clean sheets while making 26 saves to date. Currently, the RailHawks sit seventh in the spring NASL standings at 4-4-2.
Michael Lahoud -- Miami FC
Michael Lahoud was acquired by Miami FC midway through the season in May. He joined the club from the Philadelphia Union just one days being recalled from the New York Cosmos. Playing in 10 games thus far this year, Lahoud has made 10 starts, but the side is 1-5-4 on the season with 10 points, which is tied for last with Jacksonville Armada FC for last in the spring standings.
Finland
Tolani Ibikunle -- Ekenas Sport Club
Information not available.
