July 29, 2005

It's All-Star week, and the usual wailing and gnashing of teeth about who was selected and who was snubbed are lighting up message boards everywhere. Predictably, no rookies were among those chosen to face Fulham on July 30, but there have still been some excellent performances among this year's freshman class.

Last season's rookie crop could be touted as "The Year of the Midfielder", with the likes of New England's Clint Dempsey and the D.C. United triumvirate of Freddy Adu, Josh Gros, and Brian Carroll all seeing considerable action. For the current campaign it's been "The Year of the Defender", with the Rev's Michael Parkhurst, D.C. United's Bobby Boswell, and Chicago's Gonzalo Segares all making significant contributions. In fact, this year's rookie class is so stocked with defenders that there isn't even room for the likes of Dallas's Drew Moor, who has come on of late.

The same can't be said further up field, especially in midfield where, unlike last season, few players have made much of an impact. Still there have been enough contributions to give a rookie All-Star side an intriguing look. Here is a rundown of ESPN's Rookie All-Star team.

Goalkeeper: Brad Guzan, Chivas USA

With Columbus keeper Bill Gaudette now back on the bench, Guzan wins this position by default. Things were looking grim early on, especially when some poor early performances - and the return to health of Martin Zuniga - sent the South Carolina product to the bench. But Guzan has shown steady improvement over the course of the season, and has made the most of his return to the starting lineup.

Set pieces are still one area where Guzan has looked vulnerable, but the Chivas keeper will get plenty of opportunities to sharpen that aspect of his game.

Defenders: Michael Parkhurst, New England Revolution; Bobby Boswell, D.C. United; Ugo Ihemelu, Los Angeles Galaxy; Gonzalo Segares, Chicago Fire

Parkhurst and Boswell have been the two most consistent performers, having played every minute of every game for their respective sides. That both players have been handed the responsibility of organizing their backlines speaks volumes to the ability that both players bring to the field.

Given New England's success over the season's first half, Parkhurst remains the front runner for Rookie of the Year, although that could change if the goals start pouring in for a rookie forward.

Ihemelu has made believers out of those who scoffed at the Galaxy when they chose him 5th overall in last year's SuperDraft. Ihemelu's athleticism and versatility have proved a valuable addition to Los Angeles, especially when injury and international duty reduced the Galaxy's numbers in the back.

Segares suffered the opposite fate of Ihemelu in that he wasn't picked until the 3rd round. Given the Costa Rican's status as a Hermann Trophy finalist, this came as a surprise. But Segares has emerged as a strong ROTY candidate, not only for his defending, but for his goal scoring prowess as well. His three goals tie him for 3rd place among all rookies this season.

Midfielders: Aaron Pitchkolan, F.C. Dallas; James Riley, New England Revolution; Danny O'Rourke, San Jose Earthquakes

Of the three midfield candidates, Pitchkolan has been the most consistent. The West Virginia product has done his best to fill the void left by the injured Richard Mulrooney, helping his side keep possession as well as providing plenty of bite to the Hoops' midfield.

Riley was off to an excellent start with Revs, filling a variety of roles before a hamstring injury put him on the shelf. The Colorado native has since regained his spot in the lineup, helping the Revs stay the course during a spell that saw the roster depleted by international commitments.

O'Rourke opened the season in fine form, but faded quickly and lost his spot to Ricardo Clark. The Ohio native was handed a second opportunity to impress during the Gold Cup, and showed well with his tackling and work rate.

Forwards: Scott Sealy, Kansas City Wizards; Chris Rolfe, Chicago Fire; Abe Thompson, F.C. Dallas

Sealy broke out of a scoring slump in a big way, tallying three goals heading into the All-Star break. The flurry saw the T&T international vault to the top of the rookie goal scoring race with five markers, and if he can continue his torrid pace, Sealy may yet rival Parkhurst for Rookie of the Year.

The other forward who could challenge for top rookie honors is the Fire's Rolfe. The Ohioan was leading all rookies with four goals until Sealy's recent surge. But Rolfe's all-action performances have put him in position to challenge for the rookie goal scoring title for the rest of the season.

At first glance, Thompson's inclusion seems a stretch, given that he's only logged around 200 minutes of playing time so far. But the Maryland product has made the most of his limited opportunities, scoring three goals in what has amounted to a super-sub role for the Hoops.

Jeff Carlisle covers MLS for ESPN Soccernet.com. He can be reached at eljefe1@yahoo.com