Casiple and Hallisey Invited to MLS Combine

Article Courtesy: Cal Athletics. Photo Courtesy: GoldenBearSports.com

BERKELEY, Calif. – Two members of the California men’s soccer team earned invitations to the 2015 adidas Major League Soccer Player Combine, MLS announced on Thursday. Senior Golden Bears Seth Casiple and Connor Halliseyclaimed combine invitations, which marks the fourth time in school history that the Bears have sent multiple players to the combine (five in 2010, three in both 2005 and 2013). The combine will take place in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. from Jan. 8-13 ahead of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, in Philadelphia on Thursday, Jan. 15.

"This is a great honor for both Seth and Connor," Cal head coach Kevin Grimes said. "They have had tremendous careers here at Cal. We will miss them for sure, but feel very fortunate that they will have an outstanding opportunity to play at the next level."

A panel of NCAA Division I coaches from every conference and MLS representatives selected a total of 55 college seniors from 41 Division I schools to invite to the combine. This is an initial list of invitees, as MLS will also invite players from Division II, Division III and NAIA schools as well as players from the Generation adidas program and other international invitees, all of whom will be announced at a later date.

The two Bears were starters and integral members of Cal’s run to the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 16 this season and were also instrumental during Cal’s historical 2013 season. Previous Bears’ combine invitees are Calen Carr, Eric Kronberg and Tyson Wahl (2005) as well as Servando Carrasco, Hector Jimenez, Demitrius Omphroy, Davis Paul and A.J. Soares (2010) and Steve Birnbaum, Alec Sundly and Ryan Neil (2013).

Casiple, one of the team’s co-captains in 2014, had another very successful season in central midfield for the Bears. He finished the year with one goal and seven assists in 19 games played, all of which were starts. In addition to his second team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Far West selection, Casiple also was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and was named as an honorable mention as a Pac-12 All-Academic. The Rocklin, Calif. native has made 73 career appearances (72 starts) for the Golden Bears, posting six goals and 27 assists for a total of 39 points. His 27 assists rank fourth all-time in school history behind Mike Nieto (40 from 1982-85), Paul (35 from 2007-10) and Jimenez (34 from 2006-10).

Hallisey, a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, NSCAA All Far-West first team selection, an All-Pac-12 first team selection and Pac-12 All-Academic second team selection led the Bears in points, with 30, posting nine goals and a team-high 12 assists this year for the Golden Bears in 19 appearances, all of which were starts during California’s run to the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 16. The senior had a breakout season offensively for the Bears, finishing second in the Pac-12 in points behind Pac-12 Player of the Year, Oregon State’s Khiry Shelton (31 points). Hallisey tallied a goal and an assist in Cal’s NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament Round of 16 loss to UCLA on Nov. 30. The Granite Bay, Calif. native capped his career in Berkeley by posting the fifth most points in a season in school history and the most since Paul equaled his feat in 2010. Hallisey appeared in 70 games (53 starts) over his four year career in Berkeley, scoring 12 goals and notching 18 assists for a total of 42 points.