2 Hoosier soccer stars chase dreams of pro careers

Ever since he was young, IU senior midfielder Brad Ring has known what he wanted to do in life: become a professional soccer player.

“My mom showed me this journal from third grade, where it said what I wanted to be when I grow up and it had that written down,” Ring said. “I have had that as a goal of mine since I can remember.”

He might finally get his chance this afternoon when he and fellow teammate, junior defender Kevin Alston, look to be selected in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft, held in St. Louis, Mo.

While both players were standouts this season at IU, their projected draft positions are anything but similar. Ring brings more accolades from college to draft day, but according to numerous online publications, MLS teams covet Alston’s speed and defensive tenacity, projecting him to be taken in the first 10 picks, while rarely mentioning Ring in their mock drafts.

Ring, a Rockford, Ill. native, said his desire to play in the MLS or overseas was a major reason why he chose to come to IU.

“That was one of the main determining factors for me as far as picking IU,” he said. “I knew IU could help me advance my game as much as possible during my four years here. It has been great as far as pursuing a professional career.”

In his tenure as a Hoosier, Ring has been named a two-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American, two-time All-Big Ten and two-time MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist for college soccer player of the year.

“He is a young man that kind of epitomizes our program,” IU coach Mike Freitag said. “He is a kid that is tough, does things the right way all of the time and fights tooth-and-nail to win the game. Those are very good attributes that are going to lend themselves to the lucky team that drafts him.”

Ring’s achievements notwithstanding, it is Alston who is regarded by online publications as a better professional prospect.

Though he is sad to leave Bloomington, the decision to enter the MLS and achieve a lifetime goal was too much to pass up for Alston.

“I will only take really good memories from my time there,” he said. “It has always been a dream of mine, and I am glad I am finally getting the opportunity. It is kind of crazy that it is here now.”

Last week, Alston, a 2008 first-team All-Big Ten selection, was named one of the nine non-seniors in Generation adidas. The program enables the top underclassmen in college soccer to forgo their senior year and enter the MLS SuperDraft while offering educational grants for the players to continue their education in the  future. Generation adidas players do not count against an MLS team’s salary budget, raising their attractiveness to teams.

Freitag knows first-hand that Alston is a legitimate professional prospect.
“Initially he was kind of quiet and maybe a follower his first couple of years, but it seemed that last spring he came out of his shell a little bit and has grown as a person,” Freitag said. “His speed and quickness are up there with the best in the world, and that, coupled with his tenacious attitude defending, made him a special player for us. He will continue to get better and better.”

Earlier this week in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Alston participated in the MLS combine where he trained and played in matches with other professional prospects.

“The combine was a lot of fun. Nice weather in Florida, so I cannot complain about that,” he said. “I didn’t think I had the best first day. But the second and third day, I feel I progressively improved and was solid defensively as a whole.”

While Alston was enjoying the attention and weather at the combine, Ring was attending class in Bloomington.

“It would have been nice to go there and show myself along with the other talent that is in this year’s draft,” Ring said. “But there is nothing I can do about it. There is nothing I can do, so I can only see where I go and take it from there.”

So as Ring, this season’s captain, beams with pride as his soon-to-be former teammate dons his new MLS scarf in St. Louis, he will most likely still be eagerly waiting to see what his future entails.