Dec. 15, 2014
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Nick Besler and Luke Mishu from the University of Notre Dame men’s soccer team have been invited to participate in the 2015 adidas MLS Player Combine, which will take place Jan. 8-13 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
The Fighting Irish standouts are among 55 NCAA Division I seniors invited to showcase their skills. The coaching staffs from all 20 MLS teams will be on hand to scout talent for the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, scheduled for Jan. 15 in Philadelphia.
A committee consisting of NCAA Division I coaches from every conference and MLS representatives selected the seniors to participate in the combine. The invitees will be joined at the combine by other seniors, including those from lower NCAA divisions, underclassmen who sign Generation adidas contracts and other international invitees, all of whom will be announced at a later date.
Besler (Overland Park, Kan.) recently earned second-team All-America honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). The central midfielder never left the pitch this season and he notched one goal and two assists for the Fighting Irish. Besler, a team captain, netted the golden goal in the 1-0 win over VCU. He copped first-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference accolades for the second straight season to become a three-time all-league performer after receiving a third-team all-BIG EAST citation in 2012. Besler competed in 72 matches, including 59 starts, and posted two goals and five assists during his stellar Notre Dame career.
Mishu (Knoxville, Tenn.) copped second-team all-South Region accolades from the NSCAA for his play during the 2014 campaign. The durable right back played every possible minute this season, notching five assists while helping the Irish defense post six shutouts. Mishu, a fifth-year senior, earned second-team all-ACC honors this season after being a third-team pick in 2013. The team captain also was named to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-America Third Team. Mishu concluded his career with 12 assists in 75 matches (71 starts).
Besler and Mishu both were key cogs in Notre Dame’s 2013 squad that won the national championship and the ACC regular-season title. The Fighting Irish captured the ACC Coastal Division this season and garnered the top overall seed for the NCAA Championship. Notre Dame fell to eventual national champion Virginia, 1-0, in the Round of 16 to finish with a 12-5-4 (6-1-1 ACC) record.
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