Training camp opened today for all rookies, a handful of trialists, and any veteran that felt like getting a jump start on his teammates. Chris Wingert, Tony Beltran, David Horst, Rafeal Cox, Ned Grabavoy, and Jean Alexander were the veterans that decided to take advantage of the extra conditioning the next week will provide. They joined the four rookies and a handful of trialists that included the following players;

FW Jeff Cosgriff (6’4”, 185 lbs.) – A California native that began his collegiate career with three years at Santa Clara (9G/2A in 64 games with the Broncos), the towering Cosgriff moved up through the Bay Area to Cal-Berkeley for his senior season, finishing second on the Bears with 16 points from 6G/4A in 18 games in 2009

FW Doug DeMartin (6’0”) – The former Michigan State striker enjoyed a standout campaign during his senior season in 2008, his Big Ten-bests of 17 goals and 37 points leading him to being named the unanimous Big Ten Player of the Year. DeMartin finished his career in East Lansing with 38 goals and 85 points, both of which rank fifth on MSU’s all-time list.

M/F Semso Nekocevic (5’5”, 125 lbs.) – A diminutive attacker, the St. Francis College (NY) product ended his career with the Terriers as a three-time member of the Northeast Conference’s All-Conference First Team. Nekocevic racked up 10 goals and 12 assists in his four seasons with SFC, including five goals and four assists in 17 games during his senior season.

FW Euan Purcell (6’1”, 163 lbs.) – The native of Bolton, England, put up prolific numbers during his last two seasons at Ft. Lewis (CO) College, scoring 14 goals in 2008 before bagging 21 goals and adding three helpers last fall to help the Skyhawks post a 24-1 record and claim their second NCAA Division II National Championship in five seasons.

FW Charlie Reiter (6’1”, 177 lbs) – The forward out of Davidson was named the Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Year following his senior season in 2009, becoming the sixth Wildcat to win the honor and the first since 1995. Reiter enjoyed a breakout season last fall after moving up to forward from the midfield, scoring 12 goals and eight assists for 32 points after starting all 18 matches. Reiter played in every single match during his four years with Davidson, starting 48 of 77 matches (16G/15A).

The one big suprise today was the absence of assistant coach Brian Johnson. Team officials have informed us that Brian has left the team to seek greener pasturers else well. Coach Kreis has already identified a replacement however as former MLS player Miles Joseph has been hired as the teams newest assistant. Miles’ MLS career spanned three teams in five years most recently playing for the Dallas Burn in 2001 with Jason Kreis.