Lurie, Taintor Selected to Participate in 2016 MLS Combine
Dec 11 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Senior defender Mitch Lurie (Atlanta, Ga.) and senior midfielder Mitchell Taintor (Storrs, Conn.) were among the 59 NCAA Division I college players invited to participated in the 2016 adidas MLS Player Combine, it was announced on Friday.
All invited players will be eligible for selection in the 2016 SuperDraft that will take place on Thursday, Jan. 14 in Baltimore, Md.
"We are happy for both Mitch Lurie and Mitchell Taintor for being selected to participate in the MLS Combine. This is just the first step in the process for these guys to make it to the next level," said head coach Dan Donigan. "Now they most go prove their value and ability to play in the MLS, hopefully get drafted and make a roster. We are happy for them both and very proud to be producing professional caliber players and great people."
Lurie, a Second Team NSCAA All-Region and Second Team All-Big Ten honoree, led Rutgers in assists and helped bolster a Scarlet Knight defense that produced eight shutouts this fall. RU's eight shutouts were the most by the Scarlet Knights since the 1998 season and included contests with nationally-ranked Michigan (Oct. 10) and Ohio State (Oct. 25), as well as Northwestern (Nov. 8) in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
Lurie also recorded a team-leading six assists on the year, which encompassed matchups with Syracuse (Sept. 6), Loyola (MD) (Sept. 29), Penn (Oct. 13), Maryland (Nov. 4) and twice against Northwestern (Oct. 16 & Nov. 8).
The RU co-captain was also named to the Central New York Classic All-Tournament Team following the Scarlet Knights' road trip at Syracuse (Sept. 16), one of the four squads at the College Cup, and a 2-1 victory at Colgate (Sept. 14).
Prior to arriving "On The Banks", Lurie played for the University of Portland and University of Louisville and was a member of the US U18 National Team in 2011. He concludes his collegiate career with eight assists in 55 career appearances.
Taintor, a Second Team NSCAA All-Region and Second Team All-Big Ten selection, captured 15 points (5G, 5A) for the Scarlet Knights in 2015.
Among the goals the co-captain netted this season were both tallies in RU's 2-0 Big Ten quarterfinal victory over Northwestern (Nov. 8), as well as the game-winner against Nebraska-Omaha (Oct. 31) in the regular season home finale and a penalty kick 10 minutes into RU's season opening victory over Siena (Aug. 28). He also collected three points (1G, 1A) in RU's 8-0 win over Loyola (MD), as one of seven Scarlet Knights to find the back of the Greyhound net.
Second on the team in assists with five, Taintor notched the helper on the game-winning goal in Rutgers' 4-2 victory over Northwestern during the regular season and at No. 5 Akron in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
In his four years at Rutgers, Taintor collected 32 points (13G, 6A), including five game-winning goals, and appeared in 71 games with 67 starts. As a junior in 2014, he was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team.
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