July 6, 2005

Santa Barbara, Calif. - Recent UC Santa Barbara graduate Neil Jones has signed a short-term contract to play professionally for the Queensland Roar of the Hyundai A-League, Australian soccer's top division. The two-time All-Big West striker recently completed a short trial with the squad after returning from London where he was on the roster for New Zealand's National Team when it face Australian in an international friendly match.

The wait to sign a professional contract has been long for Jones as he suffered a broken leg while trialling in Norway following the Gauchos' epic run to the National Championship match this past season. Fully recovered and returning to game fitness, Jones hopes to make the final roster for the Roar when the A-League kicks off its inaugural season in late August. Should Queensland choose to renew his contract Jones will have the opportunity to battle against the likes of English Premier League standout Dwight Yorke, who is signed on to play for Sydney FC having spent time in the EPL with Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Blackburn Rovers.

Much like Jones, teammate and fellow New Zealand International Tony Lochhead also suffered setbacks following the conclusion of UCSB's season. While on trial in with Belgium's Sporting Anderlecht, he was also injured. Having returned to Santa Barbara to finish his degree, Lochhead is expected to sign a professional contract with a team from one of Europe's top-tiered divisions in the coming month.

On the USL First Division front, All-American goalkeeper Dan Kennedy has emerged as one of, if not the top goalkeeper in the league after the first half of the season. In fact, over the course of the Puerto Rico Islanders' last 355 minutes played, Kennedy has not allowed a single goal during the run of play, five minutes shy of four complete matches. Twice this season Kennedy has earned the First Division Goalkeeper of the Week honors, nearly missing out this past week after posting his third shutout of the year. He currently leads the league with 59 saves having minded the net all 1260 minutes this season for Puerto Rico.

Gaucho and Islander teammate Drew McAthy, the 2004 College Cup Most Outstanding Offensive Player, made his first start in over a month last week against the Richmond Kickers, registering one shot in 50 minutes of play. Having appeared in all but one of Puerto Rico's matches this season, McAthy's playing time has increased over the last few matches. Through no fault of his own, the Islanders' offense has struggled this season to a league-low 1.36 goals per game average. In fact, McAthy has been one of the more efficient players on the pitch for Puerto Rico, averaging a team-second best 1.73 shots per game (90 min.).

In Major League Soccer, former Gaucho Thiago Martins, or Thiba as he is referred to on his number 99 jersey, has been on the lone bright spots for struggling Chivas USA. One of just three players (Martins, Ramirez, Hendrickson) to have started all 17 matches for the Goats this season, he leads the squad with three goals scored, 39 shots, and 14 shots on goals. He is also second on the team in fouls sustained with 38, setting up Chivas with numerous set pieces in the attacking third.

Across the pond, former Gaucho All-American and Canadian International Rob Friend has continued to shine for his Norwegian Premier League side Molde FK nearing the league's two-week summer break. After starting the season near the bottom of the standings, Friend has helped lift Molde to the middle of the table with 15 points after 13 matches. He currently paces the squad with four goals on the season.

A bit farther East, 2003 All-Big West midfielder David McGill has cracked Dublin City's starting lineup in Ireland's Eircom First Division. McGill has helped the Vikings to a league second-best 28 points through their first 16 matches, putting the City in good standing entering the second half of the season in hopes of being promoted to the Premier Division. McGill also tallied his first goal of the season, netting the game-winner against Kildare County a few weeks ago.

On the international level, Freshman All-American and current UCSB booter, Tyler Rosenlund recently completed played at the FIFA World Youth Championships with Canada's under-20 National Team. Over the course of last six months, Rosenlund starting every single match for the U-20's, including all of the friendly and qualifying matches leading up to last month's tournament in the Netherlands. Rosenlund will rejoin the Gauchos this August when the players report for preseason training.