USAO Soccer Player Learning Pro Ropes

WINTER PARK, Fla. – It isn’t uncommon for college students to take a job as an intern over the summer. But very few are learning the ins and outs of professional soccer.

Adam Day, a University of Science and Arts’ senior-to-be, is spending the summer in Winter Park, Fla., with the Central Florida Kraze of the Premier Development League. The PDL, a member of the United Soccer Leagues, serves as a stopping point between the college and professional soccer ranks where players can sharpen their skills and gain valuable exposure.

Day earned Third Team All-American recognition last fall after leading USAO to a 14-4-1 record and the school’s third straight Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament title. He led the Drovers in nearly every offensive category with 18 goals, 16 assists and 52 points. Day is also a two-time All-SAC selection.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to play and hopefully impress a few people at a higher level of soccer,” Day said. “I’m looking toward going pro, and this would be a big step for me especially if I were to have a successful season with the Kraze and a good senior year at USAO.”

Day knew the team’s expectations were high but moving into a rigorous system wasn’t difficult coming from the notoriously challenging program built by USAO head coach Jimmy Hampton.

“The coaches have told me that they expect to challenge for the championship, so I’m determined to do well and help the team win the tournament,” he said. “The coaches have been great with me and made me feel very welcome from the start.

“We have three coaches with Joe calling the shots and Mario, the conditioning coach, making me laugh by always asking me if I want a cup of tea,” he added. “But they are trying to create the same atmosphere that won them the tournament in 2004.

The change from Oklahoma to Florida hasn’t been any problem for the Kent, England, native.

“I knew a few boys down there already, so I fit in straight away - into the team and the lifestyle,” he said. “Orlando is a fantastic city, very vibrant so that won’t be a problem for me coming from London.”

The Kraze’s squad of 23 players includes high school, college and former professionals. Their roster features seven international players with five from England, one from Australia and one from Venezuela.

“They are a great bunch of lads, and already a good team spirit has been built,” Day said about his teammates. “We have begun to piece a squad together, so hopefully from now on, we can really push on and dominate our conference after an indifferent start.”

Day, the main offensive threat for the Drovers, is learning a lot – including patience due to league rule limiting the number of foreign players allowed to play at once.

“I have started two games and come on in two more with just one assist,” Day said. “We have seven foreigners on the squad, and only five can play at once. So we are kind of on a rotation system with the foreign players.”

The team won the PDL National Championship in 2004 and was also named the Franchise of the Year that season and in 1999. Five Kraze players have been signed by Major League Soccer franchises in the past two years.

Riding a three-game winning streak, the Kraze are currently in first place in the Southeast Division standings with a record of 4-2.

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