Since 2007, Notre Dame has had at least two players taken in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The 2011 draft was no different, as three Irish players were selected, with an additional Domer, taken in the Supplemental Draft.
The Notre Dame soccer team had a strong 2010 season, earning the ninth seed in the NCAA tournament before falling early in the playoffs to Dartmouth, in a 2-1 overtime defeat at home. During the offseason, four departing seniors were invited to the MLS Combine in early January: midfielder Jeb Brovsky, defenders Bilal Duckett and Greg Klazura, and forward Steven Perry. Four invites was the most ever for Notre Dame soccer, and third among all schools. Of the four invitees, three attended the combine, with Klazura opting to forgo going pro this year to stay at Notre Dame for a fifth year.
On January 13, Major League Soccer held its draft at the Baltimore Convention Center. Perry, Brovsky, and Duckett were all drafted by day’s end.
Midfielder Jeb Brovsky was the first pick of the second round, 19th overall, by Vancouver Whitecaps FC. During his career, Brovsky was a three-time all-Big-East honoree. He recorded 42 points on 15 goals and 12 assists, missing only one game during his time at Notre Dame.
Defender Bilal Duckett was taken with the first pick of the third round, 37th overall, also by Vancouver. Duckett started 40 of 42 games over the past two seasons, during which the Irish defense posted fourteen shutouts.
Just two picks later, with 39th selection, forward Steven Perry was drafted by the New England Revolution. In 75 games played at Notre Dame, Perry started in 33, recording 38 points on 15 goals and 8 assists.
The three players taken in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft brought the number of players drafted under coach Bobby Clark to 17 during his ten years at Notre Dame. But that was not all for 2011. On January 18, the MLS held its supplemental draft, the San Jose Earthquakes took Irish goaltender Philip Tuttle with the 33rd overall pick.
In his career at Notre Dame, Tuttle played in 33 games, including 29 starts. He recorded a 16-10-4 record, with nine shutouts, a 0.98 goals-against average, and a .742 save percentage.
Michael Knapp, a junior defender who will be competing for Duckett’s vacated starting spot, commented on the success of his drafted teammates. “It’s great to see that their hard work paid off. I know how hard they wanted this from their efforts in practices and games. Getting drafted is one of the goals of any serious collegiate player, and I know that this is what they wanted to do.”
Going into next season the Irish will face the challenge of replacing four professional-caliber players. But Knapp is confident that their depth will allow them to continue to succeed. “It’s always hard to replace players who become professionals, but with the depth of our team year-in and year-out we expect to at least make the playoffs and contend for the National Championship.”
Notre Dame forward Steven Perry, drafted 39th overall by the New England Revolution
Mike Johnson is back from a semester in Washington D.C. and can be seen wandering around campus in shorts. He can be reached at mjohns32@nd.edu.
