Each year a new batch of players leave the safety of college, some willing and some by requirement, in the hope of plying their trade in Major League Soccer. The road to becoming a professional soccer player is arduous and being drafted does not ensure success. Some draftees have become franchise players while others have struggled at the professional level.
In 2012, 38 players were lucky enough to hear their name called at the SuperDraft which meant that they would get the opportunity to live their dream. Some of these players have become club mainstays, others are still fighting for position and eight are no longer playing in MLS.
The New England Revolution has always put a premium on the draft and 2013 was no exception, with the club making eight selections between the SuperDraft and Supplemental Draft. From these picks, four made the final roster: Andrew Farrell (D), Donnie Smith (M), Luis Soffner (GK) and Gabe Latigue (M). The rookie class was rounded out by homegrown product Scott Caldwell (M).
Head coach Jay Heaps has already shown confidence in these players with Farrell featuring in both games this season, while Smith and Caldwell have each received one start. Heaps will hope that the entire rookie class will grow to become contributors to the Revolution but it’s difficult to predict who will be successful and who will fade.
To help get a better perspective about what makes the transition between college and MLS so daunting, I spoke to Zack Schilawski, who was the Revolution’s first round draft pick (9th overall) in 2010. The North Carolina native understands the pressures that come along with being a rookie. He was asked to lead the frontline on day one since primary scoring threat Taylor Twellman was sidelined with an injury. Schilawski’s adventures before, during and after MLS can help us understand the difficult life of a rookie in MLS.
From College Star to Draft Pick
Schilawski became a target for several MLS teams after four successful years at Wake Forest University, where he scored 40 goals and added 30 assists in 99 appearances. Schilawski helped his team make the Final Four each year, with his biggest contribution coming in 2007 when he scored the game-winning goal to win the NCAA College Cup.
Schilawski remembers his time fondly, saying, “I was there at a time where we had some unbelievable players on the team. A lot of guys came out of that team with a lot of expectations.”
Upon graduating from a place he called comfortable, Schilawski, along with three of his teammates, was invited to the MLS Combine where he was given a weekend to gel with his new coach and teammates. The 5’10 forward described the combine as “difficult” because there’s a lot of pressure to learn quickly in order to impress scouts.
“Going into it, you’re kind of hoping that you just stay the same. You don’t want to do anything to hurt your case.”
Schilawski stated that the weekend, which includes interviews with team representatives, is about staying true to yourself and emphasizing your strengths. He knew that coaches would understand the complexity of the situation and worked hard to show them that he had good off-the-ball movement and could put himself in dangerous positions. Even with a solid showing at the combine, it can be difficult to know where a player will end up in the draft.
“You don’t really have any kind of control over what team you play for. You don’t get to choose what style of play, what coach, your teammates.”
Schilawski had heard that he would go sometime in the first round but rumors concerning the exact number were varied. Being chosen by the Revolution as the ninth overall pick was a bit of a shock since he had limited contact with the team in comparison to other clubs. Schilawski described the team as “secretive” but was excited to play in Foxboro.
“I was really excited. You don’t find a lot of people in the soccer world that have negative things to say about Stevie (Nicol). He’s a great guy so I was excited to start working with him.”
On the Main Stage
Schilawski entered the team during a transition time with veterans like Jay Heaps and Steve Ralston retiring and Twellman, the team’s lead scorer, struggling with concussion symptoms. With so many question marks on the roster, the Wake Forest product was asked to contribute from day one, something that he called both a good and bad thing.
“A lot of guys struggle coming in (since they are used to) having played full games with their college teams coming in. There are a lot of little adjustments that you have to make.”
Nicol and the coaching staff helped aid in this transition as they recognized that the longer season and physical play can be difficult to newcomers. Schilawski rewarded the support and faith by putting in industrial shifts every night, which led to a hat trick in the 2010 home opener against Toronto FC. That night landed Schilawski in the record books as the only rookie to score a hat trick in his home debut but also may have distorted expectations from fans.
“Maybe they (the fans) were expecting that every game? I think my teammates and players understand that there was still a lot of room to grow.”
Schilawski continued to work hard but never found the net in the same way that he did in the game against Toronto FC. Part of Schilawski’s struggles was related to the lack of a veteran presence on the team. At the time, the Revolution was one of the youngest teams in the league and was constantly shuffling players in-and-out. Schilawski believes that the absence of Twellman was the most devastating to the team’s success and his own growth.
“When I came in, the Revs were still expecting him to make it back. That would have definitely helped me out a lot. Not only to relieve some of that goal scoring pressure, but it also would have been great to learn from him. Unfortunately, his injury was the kind that didn’t necessarily allow him to be at training all the time.”
Schilawski’s time with the New England Revolution ended on March 5, 2012 when he was waived by the club after Heaps took the helm from Nicol. In total, Schilawski made 50 appearances and scored 6 goals. Despite the ups-and-downs endured by the team, the former Revs player stated that it was “great to be a part of a great club that has a lot of tradition.”
Lessons for the Rookies
The 2013 draft class features a lot of players that are entering the league with high expectations. Beyond the Revolution’s Farrell, Smith and Caldwell, Deshorn Brown of the Colorado Rapids, DeAndre Yedlin of the Seattle Sounders and Carlos Alveraz of Chivas USA have all made impressive debuts. Being a top draft pick himself, Schilawski keeps a keen eye on the current crop of rookies and likes what he sees.
“It seems that the rookies are getting better and better every year. They are making more and more of an impact. I think it’s great for college soccer, great for MLS, great for American soccer.”
Although many rookies are having solid starts to the season, it’s important that they stay sharp and focused. Schilawski remembers the rigid structure of college soccer being a sharp contrast to life as a rookie. With less guidance from coaches and more free time, it can be difficult to push yourself to get better.
Schilawski recommended that rookies “manage yourself and become your own coach. You got to make sure that you get yourself prepared to play the best you can every day. You’re working hard every day and taking care of your body.”
Schilawski believes that every player is different and it’s important that the rookies take time to figure out what works best for them. This can be aided by advice from coaches, veteran players or experience.
Despite the strong rookie class, it’s inevitable that some won’t last in MLS but this doesn’t have to end the dream of playing soccer. Schilawski has rebounded from being waived by the Revolution and currently plays for his hometown team, the Carolina RailHawks. The club is gearing up for the 2013 season and Schilawski is primed to lead the attack as evident by his preseason goal against Pumas UNAM on March 20th. While the objective is to one day play in MLS again, Schilawski couldn’t be happier with the players and staff that he interacts with on a daily basis.
“It’s good for me right now. I feel like I’m still learning, still getting better, still getting a lot of games under my belt. It’s exciting times.”
And if the opportunity to play in MLS never comes again, Schilawski will be fine since he will always have the memories from his time in New England. The former Revs rookie looked back at the hat trick against Toronto FC as a defining moment in his career.
“Growing up, I really just wanted to be part of MLS and to have something like that moment; it can’t be taken away from me. I got to be a part of a great league and, as small as it was, got to make a little bit of a mark on it.”
To learn more about Zack Schilawski and the Carolina RailHawks visit www.carolinarailhawks.com
(image courtesy of revolutionsoccer.net)
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