St Louis, MO:  Eight former Dynamo players were selected today in Major League Soccer’s 2009 SuperDraft held at the NSCAA Convention in St. Louis.  Sam Cronin, Michael Lahoud, Lyle Adams, Marcus Tracy and Jamie Franks (All Wake Forest), along with Brian Shriver (UNC Chapel Hill), Richard Jata (Campbell) and Jokull Elisabetarson (UNC Greensboro) were all selected in today’s four round draft, Wake Forest standout and Herman Award Finalist Sam Cronin was taken as the #2 overall pick by Toronto FC.  Cronin played four seasons with the Dynamo appearing in 46 games, scoring five goals with nine assists as the general of the midfield.

Michael Lahoud was chosen as the #9 overall pick by Chivas USA.  Lahoud played for the Dynamo since 2006 appearing in 37 matches scoring 13 goals with 11 assists.

Lyle Adams was chosen by DC United as the 26th overall pick.  Lyle played for the Dynamo in 2007.  Adams appeared in 15 games as a defender scoring one goals with two assists.

The 27th overall pick was Brian Shriver who selected by FC Dallas.  Shriver appeared for the Dynamo in just two matches in the 2007 season netting one goal.

Jamie Franks was selected by Chivas USA as the 49th overall pick.  Jamie played for the Dynamo for three seasons appearing in37 matches, scoring five goals with six assists.

Jokull Elisbetarson was selected by the Chicago Fire as the 52nd overall pick.  Jokull appeared in all 16 matches this past season with the Dynamo and recorded one assist.

Herman Trophy award winner Marcus Tracy was drafted as the 56th overall pick by the Houston Dynamo.  Tracy who recently signed a contract with Aalborg of Denmark was chosen by the Dynamo in the event he comes back to MLS in the next two years.  Tracy appeared in three games for the Carolina Dynamo this past season before breaking his arm.

Richard Jata was the 58th overall pick selected by the Chicago Fire. During his two seasons with the Dynamo Jata appeared in 16 games while scoring six goals.

Two professional soccer teams will come to Greensboro’s Macpherson Stadium in March for exhibition games against ACC powers.

The New England Revolution of Major League Soccer will take on ACC Champion Wake Forest on March 7 in Bryan Park’s Macpherson Stadium at 7:00 pm. On Friday, March 20, Sky Blue FC of the new Women’s Professional Soccer league will play NCAA Champion University of North Carolina, also in Macpherson Stadium at 7:00 pm.

Advance tickets for both games will go on sale Feb. 2. The four-time MLS Cup finalist Revolution are led by US national team striker Taylor Twellman, who ranks fifth all-time on the MLS scoring list with 91 goals. The Revs also have strong North Carolina and Carolina Dynamo ties. Winston-Salem native, Wake Forest alum and former Dynamo standout Wells Thompson started 11 games for New England as a rookie last
season. Defender Pat Phelan was also a standout at Wake, and two former Duke players – veteran Jay Heaps and recent signee Michael Videira – also figure heavily in the Revs 2009 plans. Other players of interest include US national team midfielder Steve Ralston, MLS All-Star Shalrie Joseph, and goalkeeper Matt Reis.

Wake Forest has emerged as an NCAA powerhouse, winning the 2007 NCAA title and going 21-1-1 in 2008 before losing to UNC in the national semifinals. Wake is well-represented with North Carolina players such as Cary’s Zach Schilawski, Wilmington’s Cody Arnoux (Carolina Dynamo), Durham’s Ike Opara and Raleigh’s Nick Millington.

Sky Blue FC is a member of the new Women’s Professional Soccer league, a seven-team league with franchises in Boston, Chicago, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Washington and New York/New Jersey. Sky Blue boasts three members of the 2008 Gold Medal winning US national team – former Tar Heel Heather O’Reilly, USA captain Christie Rampone and Natasha Kai. The team also features former UNC midfielder Kacey White, two Brazilian midfielders – Ester and Rosana – two Australian national team players and an English national team player. Sky Blue will fill out its squad at the WPS draft Friday, Jan. 16.

The Tar Heels, 25-1-2 in 2008, expect to come to Greensboro with a roster full of players that helped the team win the NCAA crown.
For more information on the New England Revolution, go to www.revolutionsoccer.net For more information on Sky Blue FC go, to www.womensprosoccer.com/ny/default.aspx

The Carolina Dynamo recently announced the formation of “The
Battleground”.

The Battleground is the official supporters club of the Carolina Dynamo.  For more information or to sign up today please visit the following link:  http://battlegroundnc.com/
The 2009 Carolina Dynamo schedule will be released in the coming weeks, so please continue to check www.carolinadynamo.com for the latest Dynamo news.

Dynamo’s Marcus Tracy Wins the Herman Trophy Award as the Nations best college soccer player.

Please click on this link to read the full story covered by the USL.