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Intercollegiate AthleticsFor Sports EnthusiastsFor Student Athletes |
TESC Soccer Star Signs with Pro Team |
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April 6, 2005 GAIL WOOD THE OLYMPIAN Joe Gjertsen, the speedy forward who became Evergreen State's all-time leading scorer in soccer, signed Tuesday with the Vancouver Whitecaps. He's the first Evergreen soccer player to sign a pro contract in 15 years and only the second in school history to sign right out of college. Shawn Medved signed with Portland in 1990. "I'm really excited," Gjertsen said. "I can't wait to get started." Practice begins Thursday and the season begins April 24. After going undrafted in February's A-League draft, Vancouver, B.C., and Portland invited Gjertsen to a tryout. He went to a five-day tryout with Vancouver and earned a spot on the team. Vancouver released its two draft choices then signed Gjertsen, an NAIA All-America player. He's one of four foreign exempt players on Vancouver's 23-man roster. "That just shows you how much they want him," Evergreen coach Tom Boatright said. "They admitted they missed him in the draft. They said he has a chance to start as a rookie." The league's draft goes only two rounds, and only 24 players are drafted. Gjertsen was the player of the year for the NAIA Northwest Region and for the Cascade Conference, helping the Geoducks advance to nationals and finish tied for fifth with a 16-7 record. He's Evergreen's all-time leading scorer for a game (five), season (28) and career (54). "Joe is very talented yet modest," Boatwright said. "He doesn't have an end zone dance." Gjertsen's contract is for $1,000 a month and for room and board. "It's nothing to write home about, but it's his foot in the door," Boatwright said. Boatwright said Gjertsen is one of three Washington players to sign a pro soccer contract this spring. No other player from the Cascade Conference received pro offers. Gjertsen, at 5-foot-9, will play forward and not move to outside midfielder as he expected. "A lot of coaches prefer having the big, the tall, the 6-foot-3 forwards who are going to win balls in the air," Gjertsen said. "Luckily, my style of play fits for them. My quickness and my skill on the ball compensates." Vancouver will play two exhibition matches, one against the Seattle Sounders, before opening its season. Vancouver lost to Seattle in the semifinals of the playoffs last year. "The transition from a small college to professional is a big step," Gjertsen said. "The biggest difference is how physical the game is. But I'll make the adjustment." Jason Gjertsen, Joe's brother and teammate at Evergreen, and Nate Ford, another player off Evergreen's playoff team, are expected to sign with the Indiana Invaders of the Premier Development League. |
Men's Soccer InformationAffiliates
Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC)
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Related Links |
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