Check back regularly as both Geoffrey Cameron and Lukasz Tumicz will provide updates to document their experience at the Combine!
DAY 1 - Friday, January 11
What a busy day! We left early this morning and got into Ft. Lauderdale around noontime. We checked into the Sheraton Yankee Trader Hotel (its beautiful here!) and I am rooming with Ryan Cordeiro from UConn. We also went through all of the registration/paperwork stuff, got physicals and met with our teams.
I'm on Trofeo and Geoff is on adiPure. Its pretty weird knowing that, even though we are here together, we won't be out on the field together. Well, I take that back. We actually will be on the field together because we have our first game tomorrow afternoon and our teams are playing one another. That should be interesting! Fortunately, I know his moves and how he plays so hopefully that knowledge will be beneficial to me and my new teammates. However, on the flip side, I'm sure he is thinking the same thing about me - haha!
Well, I should get going. We have a Welcome Dinner tonight with adidas and the MLS officials so that will be cool.
Thanks for reading... I'll catch up with you again later!
- Lukasz
DAY 2 - Saturday, January 12
We had our first game today, at Noon. It was nerve-wracking though, because I woke up early and was ready to go. I just wanted to get out there and play but had to wait... Its always that way though, when you are excited to get on the field. Everything settles down once you're out there and you get your first few touches though. You get into the game and things just flow.
I didn't start, but played about 25 minutes in the first half and 35 in the second half. We actually played against Lukasz's team (Trofeo) so even though it was a little strange playing against him, it was nice that we were on the field together because were able to give each other advice and encouragement... you know, support one another. And my team (adiPure) ended up winning the game (1-0) so that was good too!
The hotel we're staying at is great, the food is even better and the beach is right across the street so that's nice. The stadium - Lockhart Stadium - is nice too. Its where the Miami Fusion (former MLS team) used to play.
I'm rooming with one of my teammates, Jon Leathers - he's a defender from Furman. Dan Stratford is on my team too, which is pretty cool because we played together when I was at West Virginia.
Its HOT here though! Like high-80's kind of hot - which is quite a bit different for us guys from the northern states because its rarely ever this hot when we play - especially towards the end of our seasons when you can see your breath during those some of those night games in October and November! :)
All in all, everything is going well so far... just trying to play hard and stay consistent.
I'll check in again later - its almost dinner time now!
- Cameron
DAY 3 - Sunday, January 13
Cameron is right, it IS hot here! Today was a little better than yesterday though, because my team had the early game (10am) so it wasn't as hot yet and there were some clouds in the sky.
I feel like I've been playing well. When we played Geoff's team yesterday, I played up top with Xavier Balc from Ohio State. I started, and played about 70 minutes in all. I think I had four shots on goal - so I had some decent chances. Their keeper (Brian Edwards from Wake Forest) was really good though. He had a couple of great saves!
I felt better about today's game. I played the whole second half - up top with David Roth from Northwestern. Again, I thought I created some quality chances, so I was happy with that. This game ended in a 1-1 tie.
We've actually had quite a bit of downtime - more that I had expected anyway - so its great to be able to rest up a bit. Cameron's team played in the second game today so I watched some of that. Its good to be able to support him, even though we aren't on the same teams here. I've also hung out a lot with Matt Britner - who is a defender from Brown. Yes, that's right... BROWN. Hahaha! Even though they are our big rivals at URI, its still nice to have familiar faces around down here and even better when you can support the guys that you know!
And Ryan Miller from Notre Dame is on my team too, so that's kind of cool because I know him from when we played in their tournament at the beginning of this season.
Anyway, I'm just trying to stay healthy, play well and enjoy my time here!
Oh, and before I sign off, I want to say Congratulations to the URI men's basketball team for another big win this afternoon! Keep it going boys!
- Lukasz
DAY 4 - Monday, January 14
Well, we won yesterday's game against Predator PowerServe (4-0). I think I played better on Saturday but during yesterday's game, I sent in a cross that the defense couldn't control, resulting in an own goal. Haha, too bad you can't get an assist on a play like that! :)
Today is an off day for us... some time to rest our legs or, in my case, let my blisters heal a bit! Training in indoor shoes all winter is a bit different from wearing cleats in this hot weather, I can tell you that!
So yeah, there isn't too much going on today. We're gonna go for a jog later - my teammates and I that is - but other than that, not a whole lot. Some of the guys have gone swimming and maybe some have gone to the beach (I'm not sure) but I just want to rest up so I'm fresh tomorrow. We play adiTunit at 10:45am, have lunch and then head to the airport to go home. I can't believe its almost over, I feel like I just got here!
I'll try to check in tomorrow - maybe from the airport or something when I'm waiting for my flight...
- Cameron
DAY 5 - Tuesday, January 15
So, here we are - at the airport waiting to catch our connecting flight back to Providence. Today was the final day and I think things went well. Lukasz's team played in the early game and my team had the second game (again!). We only played 35 minute halfs today though, so that everyone could get to the airport on time and catch their flights back home or back to campus.
You could definitely tell that today was the last day. Everyone was giving 110% - ya know, taking advantage of one last opportunity to prove themselves in front of the scouts. In general, the games today were more intense than the past couple of days. The pace was faster and the tackles were harder. Plus we were out there on a full day's rest so everyone was recharged and ready to go.
Anyway, we played adiTunit and won 4-1. Afterwards, our coach said to us that he would be shocked if every one of the guys on my team didn't get drafted - so that was nice to hear!
I feel good about this whole experience and think I did a decent job showing my speed, strength and technique. I'm still pretty nervous though because there's so much that's up in the air. You don't know exactly what each MLS team is looking for and what positions they are looking to add depth at - so now we just have to wait and see how everything plays out at the Draft on Friday.
Keep your fingers crossed for us and thanks for all the support!
- Cameron
MORE ON CAMERON:
Cameron spent his freshman and sophomore years at West Virginia, transferred to Rhode Island to finish his eligibility with the Rams. In his first season at URI, he made an immediate impact in the Rhody midfield, recording 14 points (4g, 6a) and finishing the season third in the Atlantic 10 with 52 shots. An All-Conference honorable mention, he also was named to the 2006 Atlantic 10 All-Championship Team and went on to earn College Soccer News National Team of the Week honors after recording an assist and netting his shot in the PK shootout to help URI defeat Rutgers in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.
This season, Cameron received the Atlantic 10 Conference's inaugural Midfielder of the Year award this season after tallying two goals and three assists to help the Rams rank second in league play with 1.89 goals per game. A Preseason All-Conference selection, he finished the regular season tied for fourth in the A-10 with 47 shots.
MORE ON TUMICZ:
Tumicz led the Atlantic 10 conference this season with 27 points on a conference-best 12 goals and three assists, recording either a goal or an assist in 11 of Rhode Island's 18 games, and was second in the league with three game-winning tallies.
As a junior, the Rhody forward ranked 14th in the nation with 0.48 assists per game and also led the Atlantic 10 in assists (10) while finishing second in the league (to teammate Jeffrey Gonsalves) in total points (24), points per game (1.14) and goals (7). He was a clutch player for the Rams throughout the 2006 post-season, scoring a goal in URI's 2-0 win over Saint Louis in the A-10 Championship game, recording an assist in a 1-1 tie with Rutgers in the NCAA Tournament First Round and netting his PK shot to help URI advance to the Second Round - where he scored the game's first goal in a 1-1 tie with 16th-seeded Lehigh.
Tumicz ended his collegiate career tied at #8 on URI's All-Time Scoring list with 86 career points (31g, 24a). In assists alone, he finished fifth all-time and is tied for ninth in career goals. A two-time All-Conference selection, Tumicz earned three preseason All-Conference honors, two Player of the Week awards and was named to the 2005 Atlantic 10 All-Championship team. He also was a member of two NCAA Tournament and Atlantic 10 Championship teams (2005, 2006) and one A-10 Regular Season Championship team (2005).
