2014 MLS Combine LIst

ELON, N.C. – Elon University men's soccer senior Daniel Lovitz will represent the Phoenix next month at the 2014 adidas Major League Soccer (MLS) Player Combine as announced by the league on its website. Lovitz becomes the third member of the program to be invited to the player showcase, which will take place on Jan. 10-14 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Lovitz will be among the nation's top 50 seniors that will look to impress coaching staffs on hand and improve improve their stock for the 2014 MLS SuperDraft that will take place on Jan. 16, in Philadelphia, Pa., at 12 p.m. ET.

The select group was chosen by a committee consisting of NCAA Division I coaches and MLS representatives. Other seniors, including some from lower NCAA divisions, underclassmen who signed Generation adidas contracts and other international invitees will also join them at combine.

"Receiving an invite to the combine is incredible," said Lovitz. "I look at the list of guys and see a group of players I'm extremely proud to be a part of. It's an incredibly exciting opportunity I've been given at the end of an amazing season and four years at Elon. I can't thank the coaching staff here enough for developing me as a player and as a person over the years.
 
"Everything I was able to accomplish on the field was due to my teammates putting me in great positions and allowing me to play my game. I cherish my time here with them and their support has meant the world to me as I try to play at the next level."

Lovitz helped the Phoenix (15-5-3) to its third straight Southern Conference Tournament title and NCAA Tournament bid in 2013. The Wyndmoor, Pa., native was tabbed the the SoCon's Player of the Year in 2013, becoming the third Phoenix player to earn the accolade, as well as receiving first team All-SoCon and All-South Region honors. 

The senior midfielder had 14 points on the year with four goals and six assists. He was tied for the team-lead in game winners with three with two coming against top-10 opponents. Lovitz   scored the lone goal in Elon's 1-0 win over ninth-ranked Wake Forest on Sept. 17, for the Phoenix's third straight victory against the Demon Deacons. He also converted the decisive penalty kick in the maroon and gold's 2-1 win over No. 6 Coastal Carolina on Oct. 29, matching the program's highest win against a ranked opponent.

"We are very pleased for Danny to play in the MLS combine games," said Elon head coach Darren Powell. "Danny has been an exceptional left sided player for us, but most of all shows great leadership skills and a desire to win. We hope he can make the transition to the next level where he can possibly play a variety of roles. The team and coaches wish him well in all his future endeavors and thank him for all his efforts over his four years."

Lovitz joins Steven Kinney (2009) and Chris Thomas (2012) as the only players from Elon to be invited to the MLS Combine. Kinney went on to be selected in the MLS SuperDraft by his current club, the Chicago Fire, while Thomas was picked by the New England Revolution in the MLS Supplemental Draft last year.

Elon has had some recent success with former alums making MLS rosters with three – Kinney, Clint Irwin (Colorado Rapids) and Gabe Latigue (New England Revolution) – seeing time for their respective clubs last season.