USL NEWS RELEASE

Wednesday, January 24, 2006

TAMPA, FL -- The expansion Carolina RailHawks selected Sola Abolaji as the first overall selection in the 2007 USL First Division College Player Draft Wednesday afternoon with fellow first-year club California Victory taking standout PDL goalkeeper Eric Reed with the second overall selection.

A former midfielder for the Premier Development League’s Boulder Rapids Reserve, Abolaji just completed his collegiate career at Buffalo University where he played in 33 games the past two seasons with three goals and four assists. He previously attended Northern Oklahoma Junior College where he was named second-team All-Region and Team Defensive MVP. The Denver native has returned home the past two summers and spent time with the Rapids Reserve.

UCLA product Eric Reed is well known in USL circles for his outstanding play with the Southern California Seahorses over the past three seasons. The 2006 PDL Goalkeeper of the Year led the league with a 0.62 goals against average as well as the top shutout total with 10 after finishing fifth in GAA in 2005 with a 1.10 average. He was also third in wins with 12. He was an All-League selection for the first time and All-Conference for the second, having previously been honored in 2004.  

Seventeen of the 26 players selected played in the PDL over the past four years. Ten players participated in the USL Men’s Player Showcase held in December.

2007 USL First Division College Player Draft List >>

 photo: Abolaji impressed at the USL Men’s Player Showcase