SALT LAKE CITY - Real Salt Lake General Manager Steve Pastorino and Head Coach John Ellinger today selected Steven Rhyne, Michael Lookingland, Noah Palmer and Cameron Knowles in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft held today via teleconference call. RSL had the 1st, 13th, 25th and 37th overall selection. The draftees are expected to join the team at their pre-season training facilities in IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida in the next few days.
"It was a great draft for Real Salt Lake and it has provided us with depth which will allow us to move forward," said Ellinger. "Rhyne brings a lot of pace and is a player that is very versatile. Lookingland is a solid defender, is solid tactically and is solid with the ball. Palmer was our top choice as a goalkeeper. Knowles comes highly recommended and has great ability as a defender."
Rhyne, a 5'9", 165-lb midfielder plays a simple one-touch style of play and likes to combine with teammates. He spent four years at Clemson University playing in 77 games, starting in 60 and he accumulated 32 goals and 23 assists. Rhyne is a fast player who can play either outside midfielder position and likes to possess the ball. He was the No. 1 player on Ellinger's list for the draft.
Lookingland, a native of Fallston, Maryland played collegiate soccer for Bucknell University where he was a co-captain for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. He was selected to the All Patriot League First Team and was named the Conference's Defensive Player of the Year for the 2003 and 2004 season. Lookingland attended RSLs Invitation Only Tryouts on January 22 and impressed the coaching staff to where filled their No. 13 supplemental draft pick.
Palmer, a 6'3", 195-lb goalkeeper from the University of Maryland where he was a four-year starter and he finished his collegiate career with 34 shutouts, the most school history. In four seasons at Maryland, he led his team to two the 2004 College Cup semifinals. Palmer was a member of the U-18 National Team and attended one camp with the U-20 National Team.
Knowles, a U-16 and U-17 New Zealand National Team member helped them to the U-17 FIFA World Championship in 1999. A hard and aggressive defender, Knowles attended the University of Akron where he started in 72 of 74 games during his four years. He received Mid-American Conference honors by being named to the All-Mid-American Conference First Team in 2003 and 2004. Knowles helped Akron to their fourth straight NCAA tournament in 2004 and closed out his career having started 49 straight games. He spent 2003 summer playing for the Chicago Fire Reserves.
"We were looking for two defenders, a reserve goalkeeper and an outside midfielder, and we found all four in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft," Pastorino said. "We have high hopes that all four will make our developmental roster spot."
In addition to the four players drafted, Real Salt Lake has invited Derek McElligott and Martin Hutton to their pre-season training facilities in IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. McElligott, a 5'8", 155-lb forward attended the University of Maryland - Baltimore County where he was a three-time All Conference First Team honoree. Hutton, a 6'1", 180-lb goalkeeper attended St. Louis University and was a U-17 National Team alternate.
Real Salt Lake season ticket packages for the inaugural 2005 season at Rice-Eccles Stadium are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the RSL Ticket Office at 515 South 700 East, #2R, SLC, UT 84102, by logging onto www.RealSaltLake.com or by contacting the Real Salt Lake Ticket Office at (866) 9-SOCCER. Bios of the supplemental draftees follow:
STEVEN RHYNE
MIDFIELDER; 5-9, 165
Born: 12/25/1981 in Raleigh, North Carolina
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Citizenship: United States
College: Clemson
College Highlights
2004: Led team in scoring with 11 goals and five assists for 27 points...All-ACC Second Team...Clemson advanced to the NCAA Tournament...2003: Earned a medical redshirt after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the second game of the season...started both matches that he appeared in before his injury...named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll...2002: Clemson's second leading scorer in 2002 with seven goals and nine assists for 23 points...third straight year he has scored exactly seven goals...played in 21 matches...starter in 19 matches...had two game-winning goals...scored the game-winner vs. Appalachian State on October 23 in the Tigers' 3-2 win, the 500th win in Clemson history... ...also had the game winner vs. North Carolina on November 14, at the ACC Tournament quarterfinals in Cary, NC...had two goals vs. Wofford on October 9, at Spartanburg, SC...scored one goal vs. Coastal Carolina in the NCAA Tournament's second round in Clemson's win on November 27...had a goal or an assist in 10 matches...has 21 goals and 18 assists for 60 points in his career...has played in 59 matches and has started 40 during his career...named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll...2001: Named ACC player-of-the-week on October 8...named to the Soccer America national team-of-the-week on October 8...played in 18 matches and started in 11... tied for second on the team with seven goals... tied for second on the team in assists with seven... finished the season with 21 points... scored three game winning goals... took 49 shots... scored the game-winning goal vs. Notre Dame on September 9... scored the game-winning goal vs. South Carolina on October 7th... scored the game-winner in double overtime in the dramatic come-from behind win at Furman on October 17...scored one goal and had two assists vs. Notre Dame on September 9...also had one goal and had one assist vs. South carolina on October 7...had two goals and one assist vs. Gardner-Webb on October 24...2000: Forward who started 10 games and played in all 20 for the Tigers last season...took 27 shots and scored seven goals for the season...his seven goals scored was the third highest total on the team...also had two assists....his 16 points for the season was the fourth highest total on the team...scored his first two goals as a Tiger in the first two games of the season...scored Clemson's second goal of the game in the Tigers' 3-2 win over Furman in the NCAA Tournament.
Personal
Nichname is "O"...Sister, Kristin, plays soccer at the College of Charleston...Favorite MLS team is the MetroStars...Favorite piece of soccer memorabilia is his ACC championship ring...Honor roll student in his last two years of college...Graduated from college with a Sports Management degree.
MICHAEL LOOKINGLAND
DEFENDER
Born: 09/12/1983 in Fallston, Maryland
Hometown: Fallston, Maryland
Citizenship: United States
College: Bucknell University
College Highlights
2004: Started in 19 games...served as co-captain and scored one goal and had one assist...named to the third Team All-American by collegesoccernews.com...named to the All Patriot League First Team and was named the conferences Defensive Player of the Year...2003: Served as team co-captain...All-Patriot League First Team selection...selected as conference's Defensive Player of the Year...made start in all 57 career contests...netted one goal and tallied a pair of assists from defensive position...scored the game-winning goal in 1-0 shutout of Lafayette...dished out assists in wins over La Salle and Army...major part of a defense that held its opponents scoreless on nine occasions...2002: One of only two Bison to start every game...named to the All-Patriot League Second Team...also named to the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic All-Region First Team...picked up Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week honors for the week ending September 23...anchored a defensive unit that posted a school record 10 shutouts...also handed out four assists from his defensive position...2001: Scored two goals and passed out two assists from his defensive position...first goal of career was the game-winner in Bucknell's initial victory of the season, a 1-0 win over Robert Morris...second career score came in 5-1 win over Sacred Heart...was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week after that game...first assist of career came on game-winner in 1-0 defeat of St. Francis (Pa.)...earned the team's Rookie of the Year Award.
Personal
Named third team preseason All-American by Collegesoccernews.com...member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll...played for the Chesapeake Dragons of the Premier Development League in 2002...also trained with professional team D.C. United...graduated from Loyola High School...member of the Maryland Olympic Development Program Team...twice named First Team All-State...named Regional All-American as part of the NSCAA All-South Team...club team won six state championships and three Region I championships...management major.
NOAH PALMER
GOALKEEPER; 6-3, 195
Born: 04/21/1983 in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Hometown: Williamsburg, Virginia
Citizenship: United States
College: University of Maryland
College Highlights
2004: One of the most accomplished goalies in Maryland history...stopped 73 shots and posted nine shutouts on the season and had a GAA of 1.06...finished his career with 34 shutouts, a school record, and a GAA of 0.86...All-ACC second team selection...made career-high tying eight saves against Indiana (12/10) in the national semifinals...made on save in quarterfinal win over St. John's (12/4)...stopped two shots to record shutout against Hofstra in NCAA Tournament action (11/23)...All-ACC Tournament team after helping the Terps to the finals...stopped a season-high seven shots against Clemson (11/10) in the first round to register the shutout...aggressive play helped shut out Virginia in a critical ACC match...made three saves against the `Hoos...made CollegeSoccerNews.com Team of the Week after consecutive shutouts against Clemson (10/31) and Bucknell (10/26)...shutout against the Bison was the record-setting 28th career shutout...five saves in win over VCU (10/23)...shutout against Penn (10/20), making three saves...stopped three shots in first shutout of the season against North Carolina (10/10)...solid in net against Wake Forest (10/2) making five saves despite allowing a career-high four goals...stopped five shots in 110 minutes of work against NC State (9/19) to help preserve a 1-1 tie...recorded two saves, including one on a penalty kick, in first half action against Loyola (9/15)...made four saves in the win over No. 2 St. John's (9/10)...didn't allow a goal at the Virginia/Nike Classic in 111 minutes of action over two games...2003: Talented and tough goalkeeper...registered nine shutouts on the year...All-ACC Second Team...set the school record for GAA for a season (0.59)...has 25 career shutouts heading into the 2004 season, two shy of the school record...made one stop in shutout over Akron (11/30)...five great saves against Old Dominion (11/26) in NCAA Tournament ... blanked Virginia (10/31) to clinch top seed in ACC Tournament making one save...four saves in victory over Clemson (10/26)...came in off bench in second half against Penn (10/21) to preserve the win...earned shutout with three saves against Penn State (10/16)...allowed no goals and stopped one shot in 72 minutes of action against UConn (10/12)...season-high eight saves in loss to Duke (10/5)...came up big against Wake Forest (9/27) with seven skillful saves...rattled off three consecutive shutouts against Loyola (9/10), NC State (9/14) and Duke (9/21)...Maryland/adidas All-Tournament team after shutting out UCLA (9/5) and allowing just one goal to American (9/7)...credited with an assist in Furman game after his goal kick ignited a run at the Paladin goal...stopped three shots in shutout wins over Furman (8/29) and Butler (8/31)...2002: Second in the ACC and 18th in the nation in GAA (0.80)...third in the ACC in saves...notched 10 shutouts on the season...allowed just two goals and had three shutouts in four NCAA tournament games...earned ACC All-Tournament Team honors after a two-shutout, 12-save performance...registered six saves to preserve shutout against No. 6 Clemson (10/26)...stopped season-best eight shots against North Carolina (10/5)...selected to the Maryland/FILA Classic all-tournament team after two one-goal games...recorded six saves against Virginia Commonwealth (9/8)...2001: Played in every game but the George Mason match (10/10), earning the starting job four games into the season as a true freshman...finished with a 11-7-1 record and six shutouts...finished with a 1.06 goals against average, 63 saves and a .759 save percentage...his first collegiate start came vs. American (9/9), where he earned his third win of the season...season-high six saves vs. Virginia Commonwealth (10/14) and Clemson at the ACC Tournament (11/15).
Personal
The son of Linda and Butch Palmer, his full name is Noah Hughes Palmer...he is the oldest of three children, and has a brother, Jack (15), and a sister, Elizabeth (9)...he enjoys reading, watching television and snowboarding off the field...born April 21, 1983...majoring in letters and sciences.
CAMERON KNOWLES
DEFENDER; 6-3, 195
Born: 10/11/1982 in Auckland, New Zealand
Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand
Citizenship: United States
College: University of Akron
New Zealand National Team
U-16/U-17 - Member of the New Zealand U-17 FIFA World Championship Team...Broke his fibula three weeks before the opening of the U-17 World Cup
College Highlights
2004: The class of the Akron defense and team captain...Akron defense just allowed three goals in league play and recorded 13 shutouts...one of only two players to start all 20 games...All-Mid-American Conference First Team...helped Akron to fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and second MAC Championship...closed out his career having 49-straight games...2003: Started all 21 games for his team (3g / 2a)...All-MAC First Team...Akron defense allowed just 13 goals and finished fourth in the nation in goals-against average and fourth in shutout percentage...2002: A key cog in the Akron defense, starting 17 of 18 games played...earned his second-consecutive second-team All-MAC honor...MAC Academic Honor Roll honoree...was part of a defense that helped secure four shutouts and the team's first MAC Tournament title since 1998...opened the afternoon with his first career goal in the Zips' 4-1 win over Bowling Green in the MAC Tournament championship game (Nov.17)...2001: Made an immediate impact as one of the Zips' top defenders...started 14 of 15 games...named second-team All-MAC...picked up an assist on Torbjørn Birkeland's goal against Ohio State (Sept. 26)...named to MAC All-Tournament Team...earned Akron's Newcomer of the Year award...2001 College Soccer News All-Freshman Team honorable mention honoree.
