Karcz Earns Invitation to MLS Player Combine
Dec 03 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, NJ – Senior Chris Karcz (Clifton, NJ) of the Rutgers men’s soccer team has earned an invitation to the 2005 adidas Major League Soccer (MLS) Player Combine from Jan. 8 through Jan. 11 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.
Every MLS general manager and members of each of the league’s 12 coaching staffs will be in attendance to scout talent at the event leading up to the 2005 MLS SuperDraft, which will be held in Baltimore, MD, on Friday, Jan. 14.
Karcz is one of 66 invitees who will be divided into four teams and play doubleheaders Jan. 9-11. College soccer coaches, who will be named at a later date, will coach each squad.
The field of players was determined by a select panel of Division I college coaches in conjunction with MLS coaches and the consultation of select Division II, Division III and NAIA coaches.
Karcz is a three-time NSCAA All-Region selection and a three-time All-BIG EAST pick. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left leg last spring and, following surgery, spent the entire summer rehabilitating. He missed the first six games of his senior season before making his first appearance in the first half against Villanova on Sept. 22. He returned to the starting lineup for RU’s next match against third-ranked Michigan at Yurcak Field on Sept. 24. The striker scored two goals in Rutgers’ 3-0 victory over the Wolverines, earning College Soccer News National Player of the Week honors on Sept. 27. Karcz added a goal against No. 18 Hartwick in the Philips/adidas Rutgers Classic, earning all-tournament honors. The goal gave him at least one point in each of his four years of participation in the tournament.
Karcz ended his career with 18 goals and 13 assists, playing in 76 games with 71 starts. He finished with six game-winning goals to tie for 10th on the school’s all-time list.
Last season former Scarlet Knight Josh Gros participated in the MLS Combine and was later selected with the 34th overall pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the DC United. He started 21 matches, scoring one goal and adding four assists, helping the United to the 2004 MLS Cup Championship.
