University of Redlands senior defender Richie Marquez has been slated to compete in the five-day Major League Soccer (MLS) combine in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

The combine features approximately 50 of the top college seniors and other international invitees.

Marquez cemented his spot in Redlands’ history as one of the best central-defenders to ever lead the U of R backline.  He collected D3soccer.com All-America honors, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year laurels, and National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) First-Team All-West Region plaudits as a senior.  During his four years as a Bulldog, he led Redlands to two SCIAC championships and to the 2011 NCAA Sweet 16.

The 2014 MLS Combine invitees arrive today before beginning competition on Friday.  Following the combine, the participants are eligible for the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.

With this opportunity, Marquez joins the company of Adam Acosta ’05 and Ross Schunk ’09, as the only Redlands men’s soccer players to pursue postgraduate careers in the MLS thus far.  Acosta was signed by Real Salt Lake in 2006, while Schunk was drafted by the Colorado Rapids with the 47th overall pick in the 2009 MLS Superdraft.  Schunk was also a member of the 2010 MLS Cup Champion Colorado Rapids’ team.

Share this