MEN'S SOCCER

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

Abolaji Selected First Overall In USL College Player Draft

Sola Abolaji

The draft, held in Tampa, FL, consisted of two rounds and 26 collegiate athletes, featuring all 13 teams in the first division. Chosen second in the draft was UCLA goalkeeper Eric Reed, who helped lead the Bruins to the NCAA National Championship game this past season. The RailHawks also drafted Demetrius Donald of Queens University of Charlotte with the first pick in the second round.

The RailHawks honored Abolaji following an impressive showing at the USL Men's Player Showcase held in December. Seventeen of the 26 players selected in the draft played in the PDL over the past four years, while ten participated in the USL Men's Player Showcase. Abolaji had previously played for the Premier Development League's Boulder Rapids Reserve the past two years. Sola joins his brother, Seyi Abolaji, who joined the USL's Seattle Sounders in 2006 after having played 22 matches in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) for the California Cougars.

"When we went to the USL player combine, Sola stood out right away," said RailHawks head coach Scott Schweitzer. "He was strong, a presence on the field, and a good athlete. He just made all the right decisions."

While at UB, Abolaji played in 33 games, starting in 10. He picked up an assist in UB's 1-0 upset bid over then 19th-ranked Northern Illinois and landed the only goal in a 2-1 loss to Akron. He ended his UB career notching three goals and four assists.

"Sola is blessed with infinite natural talents," said Buffalo head coach John Astudillo. "At UB, Sola has shown us that hard work and a great work ethic will produce the expected results."

In his previous endeavors, Abolaji was named Team Defensive MVP while leading the Mavericks of Northern Oklahoma Junior College to the NJCAA Region II championship. The Denver, CO native also nabbed NJCAA Region VI All-Region Second Team honors while attending Barton County Community College.

"It is a marvelous opportunity for Sola to put these God given talents to good use," Astudillo added. "He can out leap opponents and win the air battles. He possesses outstanding speed and can beat players to the ball at will. He attacks the ball with such force that it makes him a favored ball winner. All of these elements translate into the basic requisites of the pro level."