Pilots nearly sweep WCC awards

Read all about it here: http://portlandpilots.com/news/2016/11/15/msoc-pilots-nearly-sweep-all-wcc-awards.aspx (Or, if you prefer the post-modern hellscape of #content, you can watch the WCC's video-only release: http://wccsports.com/video/582b63a9e4b0894c5be3b31f)

Eddie Sanchez named WCC Player of the Year; Paul Christensen named WCC Goalkeeper of the Year; Benji Michel named WCC Freshmen of the Year; and Nick Carlin-Vogt named WCC co-coach of the Year (along with Pacific's Ryan Jorden).

Sanchez, Michel, and Kris Reaves were all-named WCC First Team.

Well deserved by all.

Interesting that the wcc coaches prefer to play a 5-2-4 without a keeper.

They must have extraordinary confidence in the defenders and scorers.

My money says the second team with the two keepers beats the first team every time.

Stonehouse wrote:Eddie Sanchez named WCC Player of the Year; Paul Christensen named WCC Goalkeeper of the Year; Benji Michel named WCC Freshmen of the Year; and Nick Carlin-Vogt named WCC co-coach of the Year (along with Pacific's Ryan Jorden).

Sanchez, Michel, and Kris Reaves were all-named WCC First Team.

That quote is from November 15, 2016

And now, with the apparent and much deserved imminent signing of Benji by Orlando, all except Coach Carlin-Vogt, are gone:

https://www.themaneland.com/2018/12/29/18160366/orlando-city-set-to-sign-benji-michel-to-homegrown-player-contract

I believe Benji is set to graduate next December, so he could still get his degree and play one more season at UP if he doesn't sign, but it's got to be his dream to play professional soccer...

One certainly cannot blame Benji if he does turn pro, but it will leave a hole in the Pilots' attack that will not easily be filled.

Does anyone do a site on men's recruiting like the one on the women's side? I wonder what we have coming in next year.

It seems like the latest trend has been European players, both for Portland and even more so for some of their opponents. It's a pretty good deal for players who aren't quite good enough for the top tiers in Europe to get a free education and a chance to play in the fall over here. I'd expect the recruiting process for those players to be much shorter than for the U.S. high-schoolers. The latter pretty much know that they are going to college, so the college coaches can start wooing them early in their club careers. The Europeans have so many more options that it seems unlikely that they would be lined up more than a year in advance.

I'm just speculating... Anything from someone with more information would be greatly appreciated!

Considering what an entry level contract is in the MLS  ($56,300 for 2019)  I’d say go for the degree.

Also, they get $500 per appearance on the first team or $750 per start.


Even the minimum for the top 24  players is only $60K.

Well, at least he’ll still be wearing purple. Congrats to Benji.


https://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2018/12/31/orlando-city-sc-signs-homegrown-forward-benji-michel

Geezaldinho wrote:Well, at least he’ll still be wearing purple. Congrats to Benji.

A marked-man during his three years on the Bluff, Benji was a joy to watch...I'm sure many of us will follow his career and wish him well.

It is probably good for Coach Nick and his staff that Benji made his decision before the signing period in February, but I understand they were more than willing to accommodate him if he made a late decision...

https://portlandpilots.com/news/2018/12/31/msoc-michel-signs-homegrown-contract-with-orlando-city-sc.aspx

Enjoy.

Benji all goals

Homegrown forward Benji Michel has all the support he needs....

https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/orlando-city-sc/benji-michel-homegrown-preseason/

After a "handfull" of starts at MLS Dallas, Kris Reaves is now a member of the Colorado Switchbacks of the USL where he should get good playing time...

https://gazette.com/sports/colorado-springs-switchbacks-sign-defender-kris-reaves-on-day-club/article_8821b2d4-3626-11e9-85ea-03432c23dc50.html

SoreKnees wrote:One certainly cannot blame Benji if he does turn pro, but it will leave a hole in the Pilots' attack that will not easily be filled.

A day after that was written, December 30, 2018, Benji signed with Orlando, and tonight, in the 96th minute of a US Cup match, Benji scored his first ever professional goal followed by his very familiar celebratory move!

https://mobile.twitter.com/OrlandoCitySC/status/1141521622601478145?s=09