Soccer player declares for MLS draft

As a sophomore, Eriq Zavaleta’s 18 goals in 2012 paced the Hoosiers men’s soccer team in a national championship season. The Westfield, Ind., native’s scoring penchant placed him in a tie for third in NCAA Division I and a tie for 14th on the IU all-time single-season list.

Zavaleta followed in IU alumnus Will Bruin’s footsteps by signing a Generation Adidas contract and simultaneously ending his collegiate eligibility. Agent Ron Waxman tweeted that Zavaleta, his newest client, signed Jan. 4.

“I am honored to have been a part of this program at Indiana,” Zavaleta said in a release from IU Athletics. “To leave this school as a National Champion is an amazing way to end my career here. I am very excited for my future, as I have dreamed about this since I was a little kid. Thank you Hoosier Nation for your amazing support.”

The Hoosiers posted an 11-1-2 record when Zavaleta scored. Their only loss came Oct. 28 at Michigan State.

IU Coach Todd Yeagley expressed confidence that Zavaleta will succeed with his next team.

“We are really excited for Eriq,” Yeagley said in the release. “It is a great opportunity for him. He has done a fantastic job for us here at Indiana and this is a unique opportunity to join the Generation Adidas program. We know he’ll do very well at this next step along his journey. We wish him well and thank him for his contributions at IU.”

His contributions included pacing the Big Ten in game-winning goals in 2012. He notched seven, including two in the NCAA Tournament.

Zavaleta will join former teammate Luis Soffner at the Major League Soccer Player Combine in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., from Jan. 11-15. The 2013 MLS SuperDraft will take place in Indianapolis two days after the combine’s completion. According to soccerbyives.net, Zavaleta projects as a central defender and a top-10 pick.

Zavaleta has some experience playing with MLS players. Last summer, he spent a month in Los Angeles training with Chivas USA. He said the experience was vital for his maturation.

“I’m playing with guys of that caliber and playing under coaches like (assistant coach) Greg (Vanney) and (head coach) Robin (Fraser),” he said in late August. “I think it’s really important in my learning. I think it’s definitely something that helped me in the physicality. Those are all big guys, but they’re all savvy, smart soccer players.”

Since the launch of the MLS in 1996, 35 Hoosiers have been drafted in the Draft, and Zavaleta is the youngest since Sporting Kansas City selected All-American Nick
Garcia second overall in 2000. Garcia, the highest-drafted Hoosier, played two seasons at IU. He played for Kansas City from 2000-2007.

Zavaleta joined Bruin (2010), Kevin Alston (2008) and Jed Zayner (2005) as Generation Adidas signings. As a contracted athlete, Zavaleta will receive multiple incentives for leaving college early that promote a higher salary than had he stayed at IU.

The Generation Adidas program, established in 1997, is specifically designed to fast-track talented, select players from the high school and collegiate levels straight into the professional game.