DCU’S RENFRO AMONG THE TOP KEEPERS IN THE DRAFT

“It’s something that I’ve worked toward my whole life.”

Every since he was young, Virginia Tech senior goalkeeper Kyle Renfro has wanted to play in MLS.

Now with a life-changing chance at the 2014 MLS Combine and MLS SuperDraft on the horizon, Renfro has a shot at living his dream.

The MLS Combine is an annual event that occurs in January in Fort Lauderdale, FL., one that gives players an opportunity to show coaches and scouts what they are made of. It involves various physical and mental tests as well as competitive matches against other participants in the combine.

Renfro stated that he hopes the combine can help him reach a point where a team is willing to take a chance on him in the SuperDraft. He added that the combine will not only prepare him, but hopefully let those in attendance know what he is capable of and what he will bring to a team that selects him.

At Virginia Tech, who finished the 2013 season 4-8-5, Renfro led the ACC with 88 saves and was named First Team All-ACC.

Virginia Tech Head Men’s Soccer Coach Mike Brizendine had high praise for his award-winning goalkeeper.

“As a person, Kyle has outstanding character. He is faithful and reliable both on and off the soccer field. Academically, he was one of our strongest players and he earned a Scholar All-America nod. As a player, Kyle is extremely athletic. He has all the potential in the world to be a top-notch goalkeeper. He was our most consistent player this past season and is a very good decision maker during the game.”

And Brizendine believes the best is yet to come for the Forest, VA native.

“I think he has the potential to be successful at the professional level. Any success that we had this season is due to Kyle being as consistent as he was in the net for us. He always comes up with big saves during important moments of the game that can really change a game’s momentum. When he is in net, he truly is a difference maker.”

Renfro said he went down to the combine a couple of days early so that he was as ready as he could be for the challenges that the combine would present him.

In preparation for his potential shot at playing in the MLS Renfro spent time with the D.C. United U-23’s, an NPSL side.

Renfro said the time spent with D.C. United was very helpful in his development. It helped him prepare and learn what it would be like working with a professional side, both in terms of training and in the locker room.

The MLS SuperDraft starts on January 16th in Philadelphia, and Renfro will be hoping to get that all-important call from an MLS side.