Dec. 13, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State senior forward Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa.) has received an invitation to participate in the 2010 adidas Major League Soccer Player Combine, scheduled for Jan. 8-12 at Central Broward Regional Park in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
The coaching and management staffs of all 16 MLS teams will be in attendance to scout talent at the combine, which concludes two days before the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. The draft will be held on Thurs., Jan. 14 in Philadelphia.
The 2010 adidas MLS Player Combine will separate all players into four teams and feature two games per day at Central Brower Regional Park on Jan. 9, 10, and 12. Each team will be led by an experienced Division I coach who will be assisted by an experienced soccer professional.
Yeisley excelled in his senior season, leading Penn State to an undefeated regular season home record, a second place finish in the Big Ten, the Big Ten Tournament title game, and a berth in the NCAA Championship. He was a central figure on the Big Ten's top scoring offense, totaling eight goals and five assists to tie for second on the team with 21 points. During the year, Yeisley was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 7) for the second time in his career and to the Soccer America Team of the Week (Sept. 6), the College Soccer News National Team of the Week (Oct. 4), and to the all-tournament teams for the Wolstein and Penn State Classics. Yeisley's standout season culminated with his selection by the conference coaches as Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten. He has been nominated for the 2009 Soccer News Net Regional and National Player of the Year Awards and was recognized by Soccer America as a candidate worthy of consideration for national player of the year.
Also an All-Big Ten selection in 2005 and 2007, Yeisley is Penn State's leading active scorer, totaling 24 goals and 16 assists (64 points) in 63 career games. A three-time team captain, including in 2009, he has overcome two knee injuries, including one that cost him the entire 2008 season, over the course of his career. In recognition of the exemplary character he displayed in triumphing over adversity, Yeisley was presented with the True Grit Award at the 2009 Penn State Student-Athlete Advisory Board Academic Achievement Awards Banquet.
Late last week, Yeisley was announced as the 2009 winner of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for men's soccer, an honor presented annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in NCAA® Division I men's soccer.
Other Nittany Lions who have taken part in past MLS player combines include forward Simon Omekanda (2003-06) and midfielder Brian Devlin (2002-05).