Three UConn Men’s Soccer Players Earn Invites to MLS Combine

The three seniors for UConn men’s soccer in 2018 have already collected their fair share of accolades for their efforts in college. Now, the well-regarded triumvirate will look to take their talents to the next level.

On Thursday, Abdou Mbacke Thiam, Jacob Hauser-Ramsey, and Dylan Greenberg were all invited to the 2019 MLS Player Combine in Chicago on Jan. 3-9. Reps from all 24 MLS clubs will be in attendance. The 2019 SuperDraft will take place on Friday, Jan. 11.

Currently, three former Huskies ply their trade in Major League Soccer: Kwame Awuah of New York City FC, Andre Blake of the Philadelphia Union and Jake Nerwinski of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Overall, 37 former UConn players have played in the MLS.

One Touches

• The UConn men’s soccer team finished ranked 25th in the final Top Drawer Soccer Poll of the season. In Week 10 of the campaign this year, UConn climbed to as high as 8th. For the final RPI, the Huskies ranked 26th.
• The squad announced the signing of another transfer as well. Jake Dengler will join UConn in the fall after playing one year for Loyola Maryland.

“He will be one of the best centerbacks in the country next year and will be a great replacement for Jacob Hauser-Ramsey,” associate head coach Mike Miller said in a release. “His combination of size, speed and technical ability will be a major asset to our back line.”

Dengler started all 16 matches for the Greyhounds at centerback last year. He previously played for CCBC Essex in the junior college ranks. The Huskies beat the Greyhounds in 2018 in dramatic fashion, off a last-minute Mbacke-Thiam goal in double overtime.

• The Indiana Hoosiers, who dispatched UConn in the second round of the NCAA tournament this year, fell to eventual national champions Maryland 2-0 in the Final Four.