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Ritchie ready to kick it in MLS Photo courtesy of the University of Washington Former South Medford and Washington soccer star Bryn Ritchie could go high in February's MLS draft. Former South Medford soccer star Bryn Ritchie is expected to be selected in the Feb. 10 draft By TIM PYLE Mail Tribune "But I must be traveling on now. There's too many places I've got to see ..." -Lynyrd Skynyrd in "Freebird" A 1-0 loss to Portland in the second round of the NCAA Tournament was not the way Bryn Ritchie expected to end his collegiate career with the Washington men's soccer team. "We won in all the statistics," Ritchie says of the loss Nov. 25 in Seattle that finished Washington at 13-6 for the season. "We just didn't come away with any goals. "But it's been a great experience, a great four years. The coaching staff has really developed my game. I have no regrets. I love Seattle." And with the end of one dream, comes the start of another. Ritchie, a second-team All-American last season, third-team All-American this season and All-Pacific-10 Conference first-team performer for two straight falls, is gearing up for a professional soccer career. The Major League Soccer draft is Feb. 10, and Ritchie, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound central fullback, is expected to be drafted, and drafted highly. But before he begins life as a professional soccer player, Ritchie has rehabilitation to tackle. He had surgery on his right knee for the fourth time on Nov. 30. "It's been kind of a struggle this year," says Ritchie, who had a cartilage tear repaired. "The injury made soccer more work than fun." People like Dean Wurzberger, the 10th-year Washington head coach, appreciated Ritchie's perseverance during the fall. "He was not anywhere near as effective as he was a year ago solely because (of the injury)," says Wurzberger, who guided Ritchie throughout his Huskies career and recruited him to Seattle from Medford. "It limited his mobility, and he didn't have the jumping power he normally possesses. "He gutted it out. I've gotta hand it to him. He really played with pain all year." Ritchie, who says the surgery "went really well," is hoping to be ready to partake in the MLS' pre-draft camp Feb. 7-9 in Florida. Even if he's not able to play by then, Ritchie figures to be a top priority for one of MLS' 10 teams. In fact, Wurzberger has heard that Ritchie may be offered a contract before the draft even takes place. "As a straight center back, Bryn's as good as any coming out," says Wurzberger, who expects Ritchie to play stopper in a sweeper-inclusive defensive system or central back in a flat-back four. "He's probably in the top five in the nation for his position." Last summer, Ritchie proved his professional prospects by making the U-23 national B team; playing on a Seattle-based amateur team that upset the MLS' Dallas Burn in the U.S. Open Cup; and training with the MLS' Los Angeles Galaxy before his amateur team fell to the Galaxy in another U.S. Open match. At the end of his time with the Galaxy, Ritchie sat down with the L.A. coaches for a critique of his game. "The L.A. coach told me I was a real good player in college, one of the best in the air in the country," says Ritchie, who boasts a 32-inch vertical leap. "And he suggested that I make it so I am the best." That prowess in the air and an all-around physically forceful style of play are what make Ritchie so attractive to MLS teams, according to Wurzberger. "He's outstanding at winning the high balls," says Wurzberger, who has six former Washington players already in the MLS. "And he can match up physically with anybody." Once a star forward who scored 24 goals and notched 18 assists to spur the Panthers to their only state championship, Ritchie is also effective with his feet against the country's best players. Ritchie scored 16 goals during his career as a Husky, eight of which were game-winners. He also recorded 10 assists. "He's better than the average central back with his feet," Wurzberger says. "His goal-scoring power was something that was a surprise for us." Off the field, Ritchie has impressed as well. With a 3.65 grade-point average in business, Ritchie was named first-team all-academic Pac-10 for the second straight season. He has also been honored as a first-team academic All-American for the second year in a row and is a finalist for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's top academic/athletic collegiate award. "I think he's got an excellent chance of winning," Wurzberger says. "With his work in the classroom and on the field, he's a very unique combination. "That's what it's all about at this level." As for the next level, Ritchie says a pro career wasn't something he thought about much during his youth. "My goal early on was to get a college scholarship and play Division I soccer," says the recently turned 22 year old. "But it just wasn't a realistic option for a kid growing up in Medford, to go play professional soccer." Perhaps not then, but now the reality is that each passing day brings Ritchie closer to life as a pro athlete. And that promises to be quite a trip, full of plenty of places to see. Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.