FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - As the second day of the adidas MLS Player Combine got underway at Lockhart Stadium, the sun showed no mercy on the players, beating down on the field and forcing the temperatures into the 90s.
Without a cloud in the sky, the only shade to be found in all of Lockhart was on the side of the field inhabited by the coaches and general managers of the MLS teams. Despite a light breeze, the effects of the humidity were evident in the first game as both teams quickly showed signs of fatigue.
"It is preparing them well for what we face in playing over the summer," said Los Angeles Galaxy president Alexi Lalas. "If any of these guys have ever been to Houston in the middle of the summer, this is nothing. Yes, it taxes them mentally and physically but you also want to see some of that. You want to see how they react and I am not crying for them. If they're tired, then tough."
Although the temperatures continued to rise, it was clear to see which players were prepared for the typical south Florida weather and which were experiencing difficulties.
"It drains the guys, but sometimes you have to challenge their character," said Greg Andrulis, head coach of the adidas Tango team, whose strategy was to strike early while the legs were still fresh.
After just eight minutes of play in the first game, Brazil native Frederico Moojen (Clemson University) put Tango ahead of adidas Tricolore after scooping up a pass from Michael Harrington (University of North Carolina) and lofting it past an un-reactive 'keeper.
The halftime break proved to be beneficial for Tricolore as they evened up the score in the 43rd minute as Edson Elcock (Old Dominion University) took a pass from Sinisa Ubiparipovic (University of Akron) pass and drilled it past the diving 'keeper.
As the day's second game got underway, the sun had already started to make its descent and it was evident that its effect on the players was diminishing as the intensity from both teams was constant throughout the entire match.
The nightcap saw adidas Teamgeist down adidas Azteca 1-0. University of San Diego forward Ryan Guy provided the game's lone score after collecting a pass from Chase Wileman (Southern Methodist University) and dribbling by two defenders at the top of the box before drilling it home.
"I feel like the heat slows it down a little bit because the air is really heavy," said Guy. "There are so many guys from the East Coast where it is warmer and it is a pretty big change for them. I am from San Diego so this isn't too bad, but the humidity is making it a little heavier in my chest and making it harder to breathe. The level of play is so high here and that it takes the energy out of you really quick."
MAKING ADJUSTMENTS: If there was a concession to the weather and the schedule that will see the combine teams play three games in four days (with the final games set for Monday morning), Saturday's games were shortened, coming just a day after their initial experience with the event.
"I think the soccer was a lot better today, because obviously the guys are getting comfortable with each other and the shortened games helped them to maintain a high level of play," Andrulis said. "We moved a lot of guys around today to try and get them as many looks as possible so I thought it was better."
CHANGING POSITIONS: The combine also gives the MLS coaches a chance to see players in different roles than they might have otherwise filled during their college careers. Take, for example, Elcock, who is considered one of the stronger talents as a striker in the player pool, yet started as a wide midfielder on Saturday before scoring his team's only goal.
"We played him wide, because a lot of coaches want to see him play out wide and I thought he did OK there. But he seems to come alive a bit more as a forward, and I don't know if that is where his comfort level is," said Tricolore head coach John Trask (University of Illinois-Chicago). "I thought it was a well-timed run and a great ball by Sinisa [Ubiparipovic] and that it was a great finish. It was not even a good ball to finish, but Elcock just put it away."
FUTURE STILL UNDETERMINED: After the initial two days of the combine, no one player has stolen the spotlight as in years past.
"The prevailing wisdom is that the 2007 class is a weak class and there has not been a whole lot done in the past few days to change that wisdom," Lalas said. "Inevitably this will be the generation that becomes the one to take us to heights we've never seen."
On day one, four separate participants scored goals for their respective teams (Aaron Hohlbein, Robbie Findley, Nate Norman, Tommy Krizanovic). And on day two, three different players got the chance to net a goal in front of the MLS coaching staffs in attendance.
The same can be said in the assists category, except for John Cunliffe (Fort Lewis College), who notched both assists for adidas Tango on day one.
"It is really hard to judge on a couple of days," Lalas said. "As a coach, if you've done your homework, and you spent the time you need to, this is just confirming what you feel and this might help you find that one player who might be rising to the occasion."
Nicole Dupes is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
