University of Connecticut Athletics
MSOC: Huskies in the Pros Update
11/9/2020 11:05:00 AM | Men's Soccer
STORRS, Conn. - Nine former UConn men's soccer program standouts and one former assistant coach – Andre Jake Nerwinski, CyleLarin, AbdouThiam, DayonnHarris, KwameAwuah, George Fochive, Dylan Greenberg, Jacob Hauser-Ramsay, Carlos Alvarez, and Paul McDonough – are currently representing the Huskies in the professional ranks.
UConnhas had 41 players play in the MLS and 38 have been selected in the MLS SuperDraftsince the inception of the league in 1997.
The first semifinal of the MLS is Back Tournament is tonight at 8 ET as the Philadelphia Union and Portland Timbers meet.@PhilaUnion goalkeeper Andre Blake has conceded just three goals in five games and leads all keepers in goals prevented (5.06). pic.twitter.com/aMPcUPk3M4
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 5, 2020
Andre Blake
Andre Blake has helped place Philadelphia Union in position to capture the Supporter's Shield, handed out to the team with the best record in the MLS. Blake has made 21 starts in goal and earned a gaudy 13-3-5 record. With a 0.86 GAA and 77.8 save percentage rank second in all of MLS (Jimmy Maurer leads league but has played five less games than Blake). The May Pen, Jamaica native has recorded eight shutouts during the 2020-21 campaign, also placing second in the MLS. Yesterday, Blake was announced as one of five finalists for MLS MVP.
Blake was taken first overall by the Philadelphia Union in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, - the first-ever goalkeeper taken with the top pick. His incredible performances in net have earned him MLS All-Star selections in 2016 and 2019, the MLS Goal Keeper of the Year Award and MLS Best 11 in 2016, as well as the CONCACAF Golden Glove Award in 2017. Additionally he is the starting goalie for the Jamaican National team, playing 45 games with the team thus far. Blake helped lead his team to the Caribbean Cup in 2014, and has been a CONCACAF Gold Cup runner up in both 2015 and 2017.
UConn Career Recap: Blake had a tremendous career in a Husky uniform, leading the Huskies to three consecutive NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals while earning 37 shutouts and 46 wins in three years as a starter, which ranks third and fourth (by a UConn goalie) all-time in program history, respectively. Additionally, he was a NSCAA First Team All-American for the second consecutive season earning Third Team All-American as a freshman.
.@jake_nerwinski, mic'd up ???
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) November 6, 2020
CONTEST: Complete a free hearing test with @connect_hearing for a chance to win FREE hearing aids and 2021 #VWFC season tickets: https://t.co/GXUHHxq7o0 pic.twitter.com/DUNCXPXX70
Jake Nerwinski
Nerwinksi has appeared in 21 games and made 18 starts during his fourth season with the Vancouver Whitecaps. The defender has chipped in two goals and one assist. The Lawrenceville, N.J. native won the Jock MacDonald Unsung Hero Award, as awarded by the Vancouver technical staff.
The Unsung Hero Award was created in 2005, in memory of Jock MacDonald's dedication to the club. Jock was a founding member of the 86ers soccer club and a key to resurrecting professional soccer in Vancouver. His gracious personality and contributions were an important part of the club's success. The Jock MacDonald Unsung Hero Award is presented annually to a player that demonstrates these values.
Nerwinski was taken with the seventh overall pick by the Whitecaps back in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. He's started 71 matches in 75 career appearances, contributing two goals and six assists.
UConn Career Recap: Nerwinski was a three-time All-Conference member with the Huskies, including First Team All-Conference selections during his final two seasons. He was a two-time captain at UConn and contributed on both ends of the field. Defensively, Nerwinski made 75 starts in 81 matches and was a part of 34 Husky shutouts. He tallied five goals and dished out 17 assists over his career.
47' GOOOL! Cyle Larin!
— Besiktas JK (@Besiktas) October 11, 2020
? | #BJKvFKG | 3:2 ? pic.twitter.com/KLdy7uSHoc
Cyle Larin
On June 30, Larin returned to Besiktas to play in the First Division in Turkey from Zulte Waregem, in the Belgium 1st Division. In his second stint with Besiktas, he has scored four goals in seven matches. Larin has also scored a goal in his only appearance in Champions League qualifying while also appearing in one qualifying game for the Europa League.
Larin made history when he was selected with the top overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City, making UConn the first program to have back-to-back top overall picks in the draft. Larin had a sensational rookie campaign, taking home MLS Rookie of the Year honors after racking up 17 goals (6th among all players), which broke the all-time MLS rookie goal record previously held by former Husky Damani Ralph. Additionally, his four game-winning scores that season ranked in the top-15 in the league, while his 0.80 goals per 90 minutes mark ranked in the top-10.
In 2018, Larin moved on to Besiktas, which plays in the 1st division in Turkey, and tallied a goal in his debut. During that year, he played matches in the 2018-19 UEFA Europa League, which featured scoring a hat trick in that tournament on August 2nd vs. B36 Torshavn. Additionally, Larin had been a regular starter for the Canadian National Team, playing in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2018 World Cup qualifier, 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
UConn Career Recap: Larin shined in his two seasons at Storrs as he led the team in total points both years. For his career, he posted 37 starts in 39 games and racked up 52 points on 23 goals and six assists. As a freshman, Larin earned American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year honors after finishing first in the AAC with 14 total goals and 31 total points, while also tallying a team-best five game-winners to go along with three assists.
As a sophomore, Larin's domination earned him Offensive Player of the Year. He ranked first among AAC players in game-winners (3), goals per game (0.56) and points per game (1.31), while finishing second in the league with nine total goals. His 0.56 goals per game ranked 21st among Division I players, and his 1.31 points per game was the 28th-best mark nationally.
Abdou Thiam
In his second season with Louisville City FC in the USL, Thiam has appeared in six games and made two starts. He helped the team advance to the semifinals in the USL Playoffs.
During his rookie campaign, Thiam appeared in 23 games with 12 starts while adding three goals and four assists, finishing the season tied for fourth on the team in assists and fifth in goals.
Thiam signed with LouCity in January of 2019 following a stellar college career and an invite to the 2019 MLS Combine.
UConn Career Recap: Thiam started in all 77 possible games in his Huskies career, proving to be a volatile threat on the offensive end of the field. His 46 career goals is tied for fourth all-time in program history, while his 110 career points is tied for sixth all-time on the UConn points list. Thiam ranked top-five in the AAC in at least four offensive categories during each of his last two seasons in Storrs, and his on-field performances garnered three All-AAC First Team selections, one Second Team and an All-Rookie Team selection – the latter two stemming from a breakout freshman season. Additionally, Thiam was a two-time United Soccer All-East Region selection, earning First Team in 2018 and Second Team in 2017.
Kwame Awuah
In his second season with Canadian Premier League club Forge FC, Awuah has played in six contests, scoring one goal and added one assist. He helped lead his team to the Canadian Premier League title with a 2-0 win against HFX Wanderers.
Awuah signed with Forge FC in January 2019. In his first season, Awuah appeared in 29 games, logging 2,037 total minutes and chipping in five assists.
Awuah was drafted in the First round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by NYCFC, playing in 10 games between 2017 and 2018.
UConn Career Recap: Awuah started in 82 of a possible 83 games in his Huskies career and contributed eight goals and 26 assists, including a pair of scores in UConn's 3-1 comeback win over Boston University in the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 19. He was a two-time AAC All-Conference First Team honoree (2015, '16) earning his spot on the team in 2016 after contributing two goals and seven assists during the season, the latter ranking second in the conference. Additionally, he was honored in 2015 as the AAC Co-Midfielder of the Year after leading the conference with 12 assists.
Harris is currently played for the Real Monarchs in the USL. He has appeared in 14 games, made 11 starts and recorded three assists.
The Milton, Ontario native was initially drafted by Real Salt Lake with the 20th pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.
UConn Career Recap: Harris transferred to UConn following a one-year stint at Penn State. He started in all 39 matches he appeared in for the Huskies, registering seven goals and 16 assists for his career, which included nine assists as a senior, which ranking 10th in NCAA Division I. Additionally, Harris earned a nod to the AAC All-Conference First Team in 2019, as well as AAC All-Conference and United Soccer All-East Region Second Team honors in 2018.
George Fochive
Most recently (July 2020), Fochive signed with Hapoel Kfar Saba of the Israeli League. So far, he has made five appearances on the pitch during the 2020-21 season.
He scored one goal while making 19 starts and 20 total appearances in 2019. .
Fochive was drafted 39th overall by the Portland Timbers in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. In 2015 Fochive competed in 11 matches with eight starts and chipped in an assist, helping the Timbers capture the MLS Cup.
Other previous stops include Viborg FF of the Danish Superliga (2016) and Hapoel Hadera of the Israeli Premier League (2019).
UConn Career Recap: Fochive played two years at UConn after transferring from Hawaii Pacific University, starting all 45 games for the Huskies while adding a pair of goals during that span and helped them reach the NCAA Quarterfinals in both seasons. The Paris, France native was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Northeast First Team after leading the UConn defense to 12 shutouts and a 0.69 goals against average in 2013, good for the 11th-best mark in the country.
Greenberg is currently playing for Olympians FC in the UPSL and is looking to help team defend their title after a great 2020 spring season. Olympians FC won the Arizona Division Championship in the UPSL and Greenberg was named to the 2020 Arizona Spring Season Arizona Division Best XI team.
UConn Career Recap: Greenberg earned an invite to the 2019 MLS combine following his senior season with the Huskies. Greenberg was a two-time All-Conference selection during his career in the UConn uniform. He contributed on both ends of the field. Defensively, Greenberg was a part of 33 shutouts and served as an integral part of the UConn defense that allowed just a 0.96 goals against average in 2017 and a conference-leading 0.77 goals against average in 2016. On the offensive end, Greenberg tallied three goals and four assists.
Hauser-Ramsey currently plays for Memphis 901 FC and has made three appearances during the 2020-21 season.
Hauser-Ramsey was picked 42nd overall in the 2019 MLS Super Draft by the Colorado Rapids. He spent half of the 2019 season with Memphis 901 FC making 14 appearances with 11 starts. A former forward, Hauser-Ramsey played defender at UConn from 2016-18 following a transfer from Tyler Junior College. In all, Hauser-Ramsey made 75 starts in 76 games played in college scoring once and recording three assists.
Carlos Alvarez
Carlos Alvarez currently plays for the San Diego Loyal in the USL and has played 14 games this season scoring one goal.
Alvarez was drafted No. 2 overall by Chivas USA in the 2013 MLS Superdraft. He has bounced around between the MLS and USL playing for Colorado, Charlotte Independence, San Antonio, Los Angeles FC, Orange County, Las Vegas and Loudoun United.
UConn Career Recap: 2012 College Soccer News First Team All-American and 2012 NSCAA Second Team All-American. Alvarez earned 2012 BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year.and All-BIG East First Team.. He finished No. 14 all-time at UConn with 82 points and third all-time at Connecticut in assists with 42
Paul McDonough
Former assistant coach Paul McDonough (2003-2008) is currently representing the Huskies at Inter Miami FC as their COO and sporting director. In the inaugural year of the club they were able to reach the MLS playoffs and will open against Nashville on November 20.
McDonough spent six successful seasons in Storrs as an assistant under current head coach Ray Reid, serving as the primary recruiter for a Husky team that reached the NCAA Tournament in each season throughout his tenure.
UConn captured the Big East Tournament Championship three times (2004, 2005, 2007) with McDonough on the staff, and Connecticut finished as the regular season conference champion in 2005 and 2007. McDonough, who has had previous coaching stints with Wake Forest, South Carolina and Orlando FC. McDonough also helped build Atlanta United team and was a part of signing three of the biggest players to the club. His stint with Orlando FC was also an expansion project for the former assistant.
