FORMER HOOSIERS IN THE PROS

Updated 11/16/05

MLS – Major League Soccer’s 10th season wrapped up Sunday with Los Angeles winning the 2005 MLS Cup with a 1-0 overtime victory over the New England Revolution. This season featured three new Hoosiers, Drew Moor, Jay Nolly and Danny O’Rourke and the retirement of Brian Maisonneuve. Eight total IU alums graced MLS lineups in 2005.

Nick Garcia started and played 2,678 minutes in 30 games for Kansas City in 2005. Garcia was named Kansas City’s Defender of the Year for the first time in his six-year MLS career. The Wizards (11-9-12, 45 points) finished fifth in the Eastern Conference.

Ned Grabavoy played in 12 games with nine starts. He recorded three assists in his second MLS campaign. In the playoffs, Grabavoy’s playing time increased as he started all four-games and scored his first goal of 2005. Grabavoy helped the Galaxy (13-13-6, 45 points) to a 1-0 victory over New England in MLS Cup 2005.

Chris Klein finished the season third on the team in goals with seven and second in assists with nine in 31 starts. Klein came back from an ACL injury and was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year for the second time in his eight-year career. The Wizards (11-9-12, 45 points) finished fifth in the Eastern Conference.

Dema Kovalenko played in 26 games for D.C. United in 2005, starting 23. He tallied four goals and four assists in his seventh MLS campaign. Kovalenko started and played in D.C.’s two playoff games. The Chicago Fire eliminated United (16-10-6, 54 points) in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

In his first year in MLS, Drew Moor played in 20 games for FC Dallas, with nine starts. Moor also made one postseason appearance. The Colorado Rapids eliminated FC Dallas (13-10-9, 48 points) in game two of the Western Conference semifinals 5-4 in penalty kicks.

Jay Nolly, in his MLS debut, started in five games for Real Salt Lake, making 46 saves and posting a 1-3-1 record. Nolly was one of three RSL players to head to Hannover 96 to train for two weeks, beginning Nov. 2nd. Real Salt Lake (5-22-5, 20 points) finished fifth in the west.

Pat Noonan once again put on a strong offensive performance in his third year of MLS action. Noonan played and started in 22 games, recording eight goals and seven assists. He also saw playoff game action, appearing in all four postseason games and tallying one goal. New England (17-7-8, 59 points) finished the season best in the East, but fell to Los Angeles 1-0 in MLS Cup 2005.

Danny O’Rourke completed his first season with MLS after playing in 13 games with 12 starts. O’Rourke saw playing time in one post-season game. Los Angeles ended San Jose’s run at MLS Cup with a 4-2 aggregate goal result in the Western Conference Semifinals. San Jose (18-4-10, 64 points) finished 2005 best in the league.

MISL – The 2005-2006 campaign is just underway. Teams kicked off the action two weeks ago. Milwaukee is the defending champion and already leads the league statistically with a 2-0 record. At this time, Lazo Alavanja is the only former Hoosier playing in the MISL.

Lazo Alavanja started the 2005-2006 campaign with the Chicago Storm’s first goal vs. the Milwaukee Wave on November 6. He has started in both games for Chicago, two losses to Milwaukee. The Storm is back in action Saturday, welcoming the California Cougars to the UIC Pavilion at 7:00 p.m.

USL - The First and Second Divisions of the United Soccer Leagues wrapped up in early fall.

Lazo Alavanja played in 27 games for the Charleston Battery, tallying two goals and three assists. Alavanja was on loan to the Charleston Battery for the USL season. Charleston finished the campaign with a 9-14-5 record.

Josh Rife logged 1720 minutes playing in 20 games for the Charlotte Eagles in the Second Division of USL play. Charlotte finished the season ranked second with a 13-5-2 record.