Kansas City Brass Press Release – www.kc-brass.com
Monday, October 05, 2009
OVERLAND, KC – At the midway point of the 2009 NCAA and NAIA seasons, players with Kansas City Brass (PDL) experience are racking up all tournament, conference player of the week and national honors. Since 1998 the KC Brass has prepared U23 amateur soccer players for pro soccer. In the last seven years more than 30 Brass players have been drafted, signed professionally or played games with professional teams.
Calvin Clark, a senior defender at Drake University was named Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week. He was also named to the UAB "Soccer for a Cure" Classic All Tournament Team. To date, Clark has recorded two goals and an assist as a central defender for NCAA I nationally ranked Drake University.
Another Brass defender, Edson Edward is a senior defender at NAIA nationally ranked Graceland University.
A third senior defender, Michael Erwood is a senior defender for Furman University. He has started all nine games as Captain of NCAA I Furman (4-3-2). Erwood was named to Diadora/Spinx Invitational All Tournament Team. Erwood played in six games for the Brass in PDL action this past summer. He tallied a single goal in just over 500 minutes of action as a defender.
Rounding out the long list of Brass defenders currently enjoying successful collegiate seasons are Michael Perry (Denver University), Patrick White (Rockhurst University), Brian Wurst (Drake University), Brett Heinz (Butler University), Ryan Hennessy (Missouri State), John David Hernandez (University of Missouri-Kansas City), Jordan Raybould (Yale University) and Coady Andrews (University of Missouri-Kansas City).
The eight defenders accounted for 73 games played in the PDL during the 2009 season. The contingent is led by Drake’s Brian Wurst, who netted two goals and added two assists for the Brass this summer. The senior defender has started all nine games for Drake University this season. Wurst and Ryan Hennessy played in every match for the Brass (14) during the 2009 season.
Also at Drake University, a crossover midfielder/defender Kevin Shrout was named to the 2009 Hermann Trophy Watch List. The senior Captain has scored a goal and added four assists for Drake. As a defender for the Brass, Shrout netted two goals in 325 minutes with the Brass this season.
Chris Markey (University of Missouri-Kansas City), Coleton Henning (Furman University), Peter O'Neill (Northwestern University), Luke Gorczyca (Drake University), Keith Parkhurst (Benedictine University), Bryan Perez (University of Missouri-Kansas City), Michael Thomas (University of Notre Dame), Michael Clayton (Butler University), Manny Tovar (William Jewell University) worked the midfield for the Brass this summer. The eight players accounted for four goals and an assist for Kansas City in PDL action this summer. They played in a combined 56 games for the Brass.
Of the nine midfielders Gorczyca has started all nine games and scored two goals and an assist for Drake University. Perez picked up four goals and an assist so far this season to become the University of Missouri-Kansas City's all time leading scorer. And at Notre Dame, Thomas, a senior midfielder and team Captain has four goals and four assists.
Up front for the Brass this season was Garrett Webb (Drake University), Haggai Leboo (Rockhurst University), Matt Kuhn (Drake University), Brett Lewis (William Jewell University), Curt McDonald (Rockhurst University), Jimmy Simon (University of Missouri Kansas City) and Kevin Boydston Ellis (Barton County University).
With Kansas City this season five forwards put away eight goals and an assist over the course of 28 games. Not with the Brass this past season, Leboo played in 19 matches with the Brass from the 2006 season through the 2008 season. In that time he scored three goals and an assist.
Webb, who played during the 2008 season, scored twice in 341 minutes for the Brass. The senior forward was also named to the 2009 Hermann Trophy Watch List.
Three players patrolled the goal for Kansas City this season, Alex Horwath (University of Wisconsin), Donovan Dowling (University of Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne) and Andy Fitzpatrick (Oklahoma City University).
Fitzpatrick played in eight matches for the Brass this summer, ending the season with a goals against average of 2.13. Horwath led the Brass in saves, with 35 in just five matches. Dowling had the team’s top GAA. He allowed two goals per game in four starts.
