Jan. 14, 2005
Three former Notre Dame men’s soccer players completed an outstanding week of workouts at the Home Depot Center in Southern California before awaiting their fate in the MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 14. All three Irish players were selected in the first two rounds (24 overall picks).
Jack Stewart (Torrance, Calif.) became the first former Irish player to be picked in the first round, as he was selected 10th by the Chicago Fire. Kevin Goldthwaite (Sacramento, Calif.) followed in the second round as the 17th pick overall by the San Jose Earthquakes. Chris Sawyer (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) ended the second round as the 24th pick by the Kansas City Wizards.
The three Notre Dame players selected in this year’s draft are the most in the program’s history (Kevin Richards and Justin Detter were selected last year) and match ’04 National Champion Indiana for the most by a college team in the first two rounds of the SuperDraft.
Sawyer will get a chance to work with a former teammate, as he and Detter (who is in the Wizard’s developmental system) will be on the same roster.
Stewart entered the draft widely regarded as one of the top defenders in the nation and his draft position reflected that sentiment. He ended up as the fourth defender selected in a deep and talented pool of elite defensive players in this year’s draft. As the 10th overall selection, he becomes the highest selection in Notre Dame men’s soccer history. Sawyer ended up as the third goalkeeper selected in the draft.
For more information on Major League Soccer, go to: www.mlsnet.com.
Goldthwaite, Sawyer and Stewart helped the Irish to a 13-3-3 record in 2004 as the team claimed its first-ever BIG EAST regular-season crown. All three players held a key role in Notre Dame leading the nation in goals-against average (0.45) while leading the squad through an 11-match unbeaten streak.
Goldthwaite and Stewart backed up their reputations at the MLS Combine this week and are poised to be among the first defenders taken in the draft. Sawyer also helped his stock and asserted himself as one of the top two goalkeepers available.
The MLS SuperDraft capped a whirlwind two months for the former Irish players. While preparing for the combine, both Goldthwaite and Stewart were invited to France to workout with Auxerre – a team in the French 1st Division. Sawyer also became the first Notre Dame player to earn first-team All-America honors in 2004.
Here is a closer look at the three players achievements during the 2004 season –
Chris Sawyer , Sr., GK
Hermann Trophy Watch List … NSCAA/adidas first-team All-American … NSCAA Great Lakes first-team all-region … BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year … first-team all-BIG EAST … adidas/IU Credit Union Classic all-tournament team … College Soccer News.com preseason All-American … BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week (10-04-04) and (10-25-04)) … Soccer America Team of the Week (10-25-04) … College Soccer News.com Team of the Week (10-25-04).
Final Stats:
19 GP, 19 GS, 9 GA, 0.46 GAA, 42 Saves, 13-2-3 record, 11 shutouts
Career Final Numbers:
73 GP, 72 GS, 49 GAA, 0.67 GAA, 203 Saves, 47-13-10 record, 31 shutouts
Kevin Goldthwaite , Sr., D
Hermann Trophy Semifinalist … NSCAA Great Lakes first-team all-region … Soccer America Preseason All-American … BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week (10-04-04) … Soccer America Team of the Week (10-06-04).
Final Stats:
12 GP, 12 GS, 3 assists, 14 shots, three shots on goal
Career Final Numbers:
75 GP, 65 GS, 24 assists, 6 goals, 36 points, 91 shots
Jack Stewart , Sr., D
Hermann Trophy Semifinalist … BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year … NSCAA Great Lakes first-team all-region … first-team all-BIG EAST … Soccer America Team of the Week (09-09-04) … adidas/IU Credit Union Classic all-tournament team selection … Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament all-tournament team selection … BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week (09-06-04).
Final Stats:
19 GP, 19 GS, 2 goals, 14 shots, three shots on goal
Career Final Numbers:
82 GP, 75 GS, 4 goals, two assists, 10 points, 61 shots