Monday, February 5, 2001

FIU duo taken in MLS player SuperDraft

ormer Florida International University players Daouda Kante and John Carroll were selected during today’s 2001 Major League Soccer SuperDraft conducted in Ft. Lauderdale.

The two were taken back-to-back in the sixth round. Defenseman Kante was the 64th overall selection taken by the Miami Fusion while midfielder Carroll was picked next by his hometown Colorado Rapids.

Kante, from Mali, West Africa, played two seasons with the Golden Panthers. The 6-2, 180 pounder was a first-team All-Atlantic Soccer Conference and All-South selection after playing 18 games in 2000. Not only is he a talented marker, but he contributed a goal and two assists with one of the strongest kicks in intercollegiate soccer.

Kante turned heads at last week’s Umbro Select All-Star/MLS Combine where he played in Sunday’s all-star game for the East squad.

Carroll, from Thornton, Co., was an "ironman" for the Golden Panthers playing all but one game over four seasons from 1996-99. At 5-10, 165 pounds, he left the program ranked as the 24th best scorer in FIU history, tallying 17 goals and 12 assists in78 games. Since graduating from FIU with a degree in Finance last December, Carroll had been working out with the Rapids who put him on the draft list, making him eligible.

"Daouda is a foreign player and was a late addition to the combine, but so many teams took an interest in him after a great week," said FIU Head Coach Karl Kremser. "John is such a tenacious player who can play so many positions that I think he is going to stick and do well."

Kante and Carroll join five other FIU players currently on MLS rosters: goalkeeper Jeff Cassar and forward Tyrone Marshall (Miami Fusion); defender Robin Fraser and midfielder Sebastian Vorbe (Los Angeles Galaxy) and midfielder Steve Ralston (Tampa Bay).