Friday, January 15, 2010

Super Draft Pick


Earthquakes select Opara third overall in SuperDraft

Wake Forest defender expected to step in on club's backline


http://sjearthquakes.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20100114&content_id=7916746&vkey=pr_sje&fext=.jsp&team=t110

In 2009: Played in 17 games during junior season and scored three goals and two assists ... Contributed to seven shutouts on the season ... Earned All-American honors from the NSCAA, Soccer America, College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer ... Named semifinalist for M.A.C. Hermann Trophy ... Selected as ACC Defensive Player of the Year for second straight year and also earned All-ACC first team accolades ...Named a preseason All-American by Soccer America and CollegeSoccerNews.com ... Started both games at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic, earning all-tournament team honors ... Scored first goal of the season at Clemson (9.13) ... Started each game of the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team ... Returned to the Wake starting lineup against North Carolina (10.9), playing 105 minutes and attempting one shot ... Scored second goal of the season against NC State (10.17), closing out the scoring in 4-1 win ... Netted third goal of the year in victory against Davidson (10.27) ... Assisted on Andy Lubahn's game-winning goal in victory against Duke (11.6) ... Recorded second assist of the season on Zack Schilawski's first goal in victory against Duke (11.29).

In 2008: Started in 22 games during 2008, scoring five goals ... Named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and also earned All-ACC First Team honors ... Finalist for the Soccer News Net College Player of the Year Award ... Named a first team All-American by Top Drawer Soccer and College Soccer News ... Earned second team All-American honors from the NSCAA and Soccer America ... Member of defense that didn't allow a goal for 401:59 early in the season ... Scored first goal of the season against UC Santa Barbara (9/21), giving the Demon Deacons their first lead of the game ... Scored the tying goal on a header in Wake's win at No. 2 Maryland (9/28) ... Recorded first multi-goal game of his career against Virginia Tech (10/4).

In 2007: Soccer America First Team All-Freshman ... All-ACC Freshman Team ... First collegiate goal was the tying mark in Wake's 1-1 draw with Elon on Oct. 2 ... Lead freshman class in games played and starts (26-23) ... Earned a starting spot when senior Julian Valentin had a preseason injury, but Vidovich revised the lineup to keep Opara in when Valentin returned.

Prep: Four-year letterman at C.E. Jordan High School ... Three time all-conference selection ... All-Piedmont Athletic Conference (PAC 6) Player of the year as a junior ... High school's most valuable player in 2005 and 2006 ... Named his high school's defensive player of the year as a freshman ... An all-region selection in 2005 ... Helped C.E. Jordan High to four conference championships ... Played his club ball for Triangle FC Navy 88 ... Member of the North Carolina ODP team in 2007 ... A three-time selection to the Super Y ODP ... Named an Elite 300 All-Star ... High school teammate of current Deacon midfielder Will Clayton.

Personal: Born on February 21, 1989 ... Parents are Emmanuel and Clarice Opara.

Career Stats

YearGP-GSShotsGoalsAssistsPointsGWG
200726-2391130
200822-222050102
200917-17153280
Totals65-624493212

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Funny... but also sad

A funny comic strip that I ran across in the local paper, but a sad commentary on the status of football in most of North America.