United Soccer Leagues (USL)

Rowdies begin player evaluations

Van Der Beck oversees first player trials in Tampa Bay

USL News Feature

Friday, October 30, 2009

TAMPA, FL -- The Tampa Bay Rowdies kicked off their preparations in earnest this week with the first of four invitation-only combines as part of the building process for its 2010 inaugural team roster. Technical Director Perry Van Der Beck is overseeing the process and took some time for an interview with USLlive.com.

Van Der Beck Interview

Up to 40 international and domestic players took part in the first three-day combine held in Tampa at the Ed Radice Sports Complex, the home of the USL Super Y-League North American Finals this November.

Players came from numerous countries around the globe, but also included several players with local ties that fans may be familiar with, some with USL experience. Among those players were:

Richard Jata – A New Port Richey native, he attended Furman University and Campbell University where he scored a total of 32 goals, 18 assists and 82 points. He played for Carolina Dynamo (2007–08) in the USL Premier Development League.

Jordan Seabrook – Attended the University of South Florida where he played forward from 2005-08. Seabrook played for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USL Second Division in 2009 after being drafted by Colorado Rapids in the 2009 MLS Super Draft.

Brian Shriver – A Clearwater native who was an all-state performer at Clearwater High School. He played for the University of North Carolina, reaching the NCAA Men’s College Cup championship game in 2008. He played for Miami FC in the USL First Division and made six appearances after being drafted by FC Dallas in the 2009 MLS Super Draft.

Steven Morris – Born in Honduras, he moved to Palm Harbor where he played for Countryside High School and Palm Harbor University High School. He played in Honduras for five seasons for Club Deportivo Motagua, Motagua Reserves and Marathon Reserves. He last played for the Bradenton Academics in PDL in 2009 and registered a total of five goals and five assists in 12 games.

Ryan Maxwell – Played as a midfielder for University of Tampa (2006–08), where he tallied a total of 16 goals, 13 assists and 45 points. Maxwell was a first round draft pick of the New England Revolution in the 2009 MLS Super Draft.

Tanner Wolfe – A New Port Richey native, Wolfe attended Stetson University where he played from 2004-08, logging a total of 33 goals and 18 assists. Wolfe currently ranks fifth all-time in Stetson University scoring history.