Over the past four seasons, the greatest on-field success in the Major Indoor Soccer League has been in Baltimore. So why wouldn?t teams raid the Charm City metro area for new talent?
Four college players with local ties were drafted in last week?s five-round draft, which included a territorial round to open business. The Blast took just one local, but overall, the team was very happy with its draft.
“Would I have been interested in getting some of the other local players? Absolutely,” Blast president/general manager Kevin Healey said.
But Healey was ecstatic with the players that fell to the Blast, who held the No. 7 slot in the eight-team draft. In the territorial round, the Blast selected University of Maryland-Baltimore County midfielder Kevin Mezzadra, who played prep soccer at Loyola Blakefield.
“He?s another kid I?ve known since he was about 8 years old,” said Healey, who is also involved in youth club soccer with the Baltimore Bays, a former team of Mezzadra?s. “Big, strong Baltimore kid who can play multiple positions.”
Mezzadra has had tryout offers from pro outdoor teams, but will sit out this summer to rehab a knee injury before joining the Blast.
“I?m very overwhelmed,” said Mezzadra, a Fallston resident. “It?s really exciting. I get to stay near home and play for the best team in the league.”
While the Blast missed out on two first-round picks from Towson University ? forward Sebastian Haensel went to expansion team New Jersey and defender Nigel Marples went three picks later to Philadelphia ? the team was able to snag a serious talent with the 15thoverall pick. Hofstra forward Michael Todd is a “rugged, target forward” according to Healey.
“I?m happy for those kids at Towson, but we were very ecstatic to get Michael Todd,” Healey said. “That kid has a very bright future with us. I was ecstatic that he was still available.”
Milwaukee selected UMBC midfielder David Feazell with the 38th overall pick.
“I think the league is important because a lot of these kids in Baltimore have been brought up watching the Blast and playing indoor,” UMBC coach Pete Caringi said. “Baltimore is a great indoor town.”
2007 Blast draft
TERRITORIAL » Kevin Mezzadra, UMBC, Midfield
FIRST ROUND » Michael Todd, Hofstra, Forward
SECOND ROUND » Jared Kent, Old Dominion, Midfield
THIRD ROUND » Gary Flood, Hofstra, Defender
FOURTH ROUND » Matt Tuddenham, James Madison, Defender
