Five New England-tied players invited to 2012 adidas MLS Combine

December 8, 2011

A total of 52 college seniors/redshirt juniors were selected to attend the 2012 adidas MLS Player Combine January 6-10 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and five are either New Englanders by birth or collegiate choice. When all is said and done, these players will join Generation adidas players, international invitees, additional college players from NCAA Division II and III schools, NAIA schools and other Division I invitees at the combine. Here are the five New England-tied players who will get the chance to impress MLS decision-makers.

Notre Dame/Dorchester's Aaron Maund among those picked for MLS 2012 combine

Jhojan Obando (Providence/Goalkeeper) – The Kissimmee, Fla. native has been the Friars starting keeper for the past two seasons. As a junior he was named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team. This past season, the 5-11, 170 lb. senior posted a 1.32 GAA for Providence, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Aaron Maund (Notre Dame/Defender) – From Dorchester, Mass. and Roxbury Latin, Maund played every minute during his senior season after a stellar career for the Fighting Irish. He is a three-time all-BIG EAST selection and served as a team captain in 2011. He was also part of the U.S. Under-20 National Team at the 2009 U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

Nickardo Blake (Connecticut/Defender) – The Jamaican appeared in 44 games in two seasons with Connecticut, notching two goals and six assists. Prior to his time at UConn, he was an NJCAA All-American at East Central Junior College in Missouri.

Luckymore Mkosana (Dartmouth/Forward) – Named the 2011 Ivy League Player of the Year, Mkosana is Dartmouth's all-time leading scorer with 34 career goals and all-time points leader with 79. A senior co-captain, the Zimbabwe native and Kimball Union product is a four-time All-Ivy first team selection.

Tony Cascio (Connecticut/Forward) – The Arizona-bred striker had a phenomenal career with the Huskies. Coming into 2011, he was a preseason All-American, a member of the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Watch List and the BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. He totaled 24 goals and 25 assists in his career, capping it off with a 2011 All-BIG EAST Second Team selection.