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Aaron Nielsen ,

December 15, 2016 Email

Aaron Nielsen



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Canadian soccer players continue to make an impact on the NCAA Division 1 men's soccer scene. Sigma FC alumni Kwame Awuah and Chris Nanco were the big names going into the 2016 season, performed well and should be considered as picks for the 2017 MLS Draft, despite both players being on the smaller side. The big name of the 2016 season was Vermont's Brian Wright who I first identified in last year’s All-Canadian team and was one of the top performers during the 2016 season, including getting his school into the National Tournament. Meanwhile, Alex Comsia unfortunately missed his penalty kick in the semis, although helped help lead his school North Carolina to the NCAA Men's Soccer Final Four, which was eventually won by Stanford. Here is my 2016 NCAA Division 1 Men's All-Canadian team. Like many topical Canadian soccer stories, the role of a potential Canadian Premier League will play a major factor if these players wish to extend their careers in the game. GK - Darrin MacLeod, Drake





A four year starter at Drake, as well as several years of Toronto FC Academy experience, MacLeod finished his collegiate career playing in 76 games with Drake. He had a 1.44 Goals Against Average and a .735 Save Percentage with 19 career NCAA D1 shutouts. MacLeod helped his school advance to the 2015 NCAA National Tournament and won multiple MVC Defensive Player of the Week awards. The Waterloo native played with both TFC Academy and K-W United PDL side during the summer and is looking for a professional opportunities now that his college career is complete. FB - Quinton Duncan, Tulsa



Quinton returns to my All-Canadian Team after being selected as a Freshman in 2013. As a senior in 2016, Duncan competed in 20 games, playing in all his school Tulsa's minutes expect three. He scored one goal and added four assists and finished his NCAA D1 Career playing in 80 games, scoring three goals and adding six assists. Quinton lost steam in terms of an MLS Draft candidate with his school underperforming, although the Whitecaps residency graduate could qualify for a homegrown contract or at least be given an opportunity to play for Whitecaps 2, and could also be a key players for a Canadian Premier League side in the future. CB - Nyal Higgins, Oakland



Nyal just completed his freshman season in NCAA D1 playing with some fellow Canadians on Oakland. Higgins had a successful youth career with Ajax before moving to League One Ontario side Vaughan and performed very well at last year’s Sigma College Showcase. The Canadian U-18 player played in 16 games during his freshman season scoring two goals and the school looked much stronger in defense when he played. At 6'2/175 with good footballing skills, Higgins is a potential future MLS Draft Pick and could be a candidate for the new Canadian Generation Adidas Contract. CB - Kamal Miller, Syracuse



Kamal is the best underclassman Canadian in NCAA Division 1 and will be regarded as an MLS Draft prospect as long as he remains with Syracuse. Miller played in 20 games during his sophomore year, scoring two goals and adding two assists and has already played 45 games for the Orange in two seasons helping his school reach the National Championship Tournament both seasons. Miller was recently called into the Canadian U-20 National Team and is a name to watch regarding the Canadian Soccer scene. FB - Alex Comsia, North Carolina



Alex helped his school, the North Carolina Tar Heels, make in the to 2016 NCAA D1 National Championship Final Four playing a very defensive role splitting time at full-back and center-back. Selected on my All-Canadian team last year, Comsia started his career with the Vancouver Whitecaps residency program before moving to FC Strasbourg in France. Comsia has also been part of the Canadian set-up, including player with the 2015 Pan Am Games Canadian team. Despite limited offensive ability, Cosmia has good awareness and tactical ability and should be another Canadian with potential MLS opportunities. MF - David Itoafa, Siena



Itoafa finished his college career playing 80 career games with Siena, scoring eight goals and eight assists in holding and attacking midfield role. The Fredericton native was a five time member of the New Brunswick provincial team before his moved to Siena. Itoafa is 6'3/170 and regards Yaya Toure as a player he looks up to. He should be a prime Canadian Premier League potential player, although will need to improve his stamina in games and use his size to his advantage more. MF - Michael Marcantognini, Michigan State



Coming from Sudbury, Marcantognini might not be a name familiar with most Canadian Soccer fans although Michael has done a lot to give him an opportunity to succeed in soccer, including playing with the Toronto FC Academy and playing soccer at St Andrews College. Michael has represented Ontario at a U14 and U16 level as well. He joined Michigan State as a freshman in 2014, following the path of current Toronto FC player Jay Chapman. Michael has yet to establish himself as a starter but did play in 17 games in 2016 and scored two goals helping the Spartans to a National Championship birth. Like Chapman, Michael will be looking at a strong senior season to attain a homegrown contract from Toronto FC. MF - Dylan Sacramento, Florida Gulf Coast



Dylan was sidelined by injury during the 2016 campaign, which was a shame because when he did play he was one of the more effective players at this level. Sacramento played in 13 games during the 2016 season scoring four goals and three assists taking 37 shots. He finished his college career after playing with York in CIS and two seasons at FGCU. Born in Winnipeg, Dylan is a former Toronto FC League One Ontario and Canada U-18 player and is a dynamic winger who can both score and create. Dylan is still 21 and if he can stay healthy, could play pro soccer and be a key player on a Canadian Premier League side. MF - Chris Nanco, Syracuse



Chris completed his NCAA career with 20 goals and seven assists throughout his 80 game career at Syracuse. He was key contributor during the 2016 season scoring seven goals and adding an assist named to the NSCAA Regional Third Division Team. Nanco played with the Canadian National Team including the 2011 U17 Championship and has been a high profile player for Sigma FC in League One Ontario. Nanco is a speedy winger, although his lack of size despite outstanding athletic attributes will hurt him from gaining a large amount of MLS interest although he could be effective for a USL or a CanPL side. MF - Kwame Awuah, UCONN



Due to his passing and crossing ability UCONN have used Awuah in a more forward role than his traditional full-back position. This allowed Awuah to score two goals and add seven assists in 19 games during his 2016 senior year. Awuah finished his Huskies career playing 83 games and scoring eight goals well adding 24 assists. I feel Awuah’s pro position is as a fullback or wing-back and both his speed and crossing ability is already at MLS quality. The concern regarding Awuah is his defensive attributes and at 5'7 could be a liability in a more defensive position. This being said, I do see Awuah as a draft option in the 2017 MLS Draft and playing professional soccer in the future. FW - Brian Wright, Vermont



As mentioned, Brian Wright was mostly unknown when I spoke about him in last year’s All-Canadian team. Although after a sensational 2016 season, Wright was near the top of the nation in many statistical categories, including his 14 goals and 12 assists. He is now on the mind of many MLS teams and writers as a key prospect for the 2017 MLS Draft. Wright finishes his career at Vermont playing in 80 games, scoring 39 goals and 24 assists. Traditionally a target man, in 2016, Wright also took the role as a team leader providing opportunities for his teammates as well as converting ones on his own and this all-around play should improve his chances of being drafted. Honorable Mentions

Other players who deserve a mention and were in consideration for the first eleven include Montreal Impact Homegrown goalkeeper Jason Beaulieu at New Mexico, TFC Academy player Daniel Jodah at Marshall, more attacking midfield players Francesco Saporito at Milwaukee, Austin Ricci at Oakland, Stian Sandbekkhaug at Valparaiso and senior Sergio Camargo at Syracuse who will also be looked at as a potential MLS 2017 Draft prospect. As well as Forwards Matthew Chow at Brown and Freshman Marcel Zajac at Akron.



Aaron Neilsen is a co-founder of Prospect XI (Prospect Eleven), a scouting network and online magazine dedicated to tracking/highlighting young players that refer to as "prospects" as well as their development pathways both within North America and worldwide. Follow PXI via www.prospectxi.com or on twitter @ProspectXI.