PDL League Update: 30+ PDL Players Invited to 2017 MLS Combine

#Path2Pro. That is the motto of the Premier Development League. Laying down the path for aspiring athletes to make it to the pros, and with the 2017 MLS Superdraft coming up on the 13th, that path may be nearing an end for some. The 2017 MLS Combine, which kicked off January 7th, featured 68 young players from around the globe looking to make it to the bigs, and with the recent addition of
Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC, it just got a bit easier. Nevertheless, the combine is a highly competitive way of evaluating the players through full 11 vs 11 matches. Among the 68 players, more than 30 of those had some PDL experience, helping boost the idea that, if you want to make it big, the PDL is where it all begins.

Jacori Hayes - Midfielder - DC United U-23

Playing for the now-defunct DC United U-23 team in 2015, Hayes had an outstanding year, playing in 9 of the team's games, scoring 4 goals and 1 assist. Hayes was also an integral part of the Wake Forest men's soccer team in 2016, playing 25 games and notching 8 goals on 59 shots, first on the team, along with 3 assists, leading the Demon Deacons to a 19-3-3 overall record. Wake Forest made it all the way to the College Cup Final, where they would fall to #5 Stanford 0-0 (5-4 PKs). Hayes and the Deacons had an incredible 2016 season, and he looks to take that talent to Major League Soccer in 2017.

Joseph Holland - Midfielder - Ventura County Fusion

Holland, out of London, England, played two incredibly different roles between the PDL and NCAA. As a member of the 2016 VC Fusion squad, Joseph lead the team with 7 goals in 11 games, helping
guide the team to a 7-4-3 record, which is good on paper, but was only good enough for 4th in the incredibly competitive Southwest Division. In college, however, Holland notched only 3 goals in 18 games with Hofstra University, but made up for that with his assist numbers. He totaled 8 assists for the season, which was 1st on the team, five more than any other player. An international player with an outstanding skill set as a scorer and creator, Holland is sure to be a high pick in this year's draft.

Miles Robinson - Defender - FC Boston

Miles Robinson made quite a name for himself in the PDL in 2016. Playing just 6 games with FC Boston, Robinson was awarded the title of the league's #1 defender. Robinson established himself as a wall on defense, and caught the eye of many scouts around the nation. As a member of the Syracuse University men's team, Robinson scored 4 goals on just 13 shots and notched an assist in fifteen games played. Miles ranked third on Will Parchman's Top 10 MLS Superdraft Prospects, and was compared to the likes of LA Galaxy star Jelle van Damme.
"Miles Robinson was, without much doubt, the best defender in college soccer in 2016. He burst onto the national scene with a rousing performance in the 2015 College Cup as a freshman, and his follow-up season in 2016 was something to behold, like watching a young lion come into his claws. Robinson, like Van Damme, is a rangy, high risk-reward center back who likes to step into challenges and form the base of the spine during attacks. He’s probably the best possession center back to emerge in the draft since Matt Polster, who was so good on ball the Chicago Fire moved him into the midfield." - Will Parchman
The PDL is arguably the best there is in guiding young athletes to the pros, and with MOBA Soccer Academy nearing its completion, Peachtree City MOBA looks to be a part of that reputation. There is no lack of talent on the MOBA squad, and with the new facility, those talents can be fast-tracked to the MLS or the newly-promoted USL. As soon as it all comes together, look for MOBA to become one of the top clubs in league.

#MOBAProud
Images Retrieved from MLS, Winston-Salem Journal, Hofstra University, Syracuse University, respectively

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