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Chris Salvaggione is a Colorado Rush Pikes Peak player that has been drafter into the MLS with New England Revolution, during the MLS Super Draft held in January 2009. This is very exciting news for the Rush Organization as well as Colorado Rush and Pikes Peak specifically, and further proof of a program that continues to develop some of the best young soccer players in the country.
Each week, Chris is going write a blog on his experiences, his fight and his anticipated march up the ladder to his goal of becoming a starter in the MLS.
Please come back and visit Chris’s blog weekly to find out updates, his struggles and his successes. It was Salvo’s dream to play in the MLS, and he has taken a major step toward it……..If this is your dream........are you working hard enough to get there? |
Week 3
From Josh of the Pikes Peak B11 Nike team - When did you know that you wanted to play soccer professionally, that is was your dream?
Becoming a professional soccer player has always been a life-long dream of mine but I remember when I was in middle school my P.E. teacher had us write down some goals that we wanted to achieve in our life, some short term goals and some long term. I knew that I wanted to play soccer and that it was the only thing I really enjoyed doing so all my goals were about soccer. Some of the short term goals had to do with club soccer and high school soccer, saying that I wanted to play varsity soccer or play on the top club team. Some of my long term goals were about playing college soccer at a D1 university, but my ultimate long term goal was to become a professional soccer player so I guess it was around that age that I really put my head down and started working towards accomplishing that goal.
From Sean Creamer of the Pikes Peak B12 Nike team - What do you like best about playing in the MLS?
There's not really one thing that sticks out to me I really love every minute of it. I am really taking advantage of learning as much as I possibly can from guys that have been in the league for a few years and know what it takes to make a long career out of it, its not everyday that you get to train with guys like Steve Ralston, Shalrie Joseph, Taylor Twellman, and being an attacking player you can't pass up an opportunity to go against a goalie of Matt Reis' calliber, there is so much to gain from just one training session with these guys. There's also one more thing that I have really been enjoying. As much as I value a good education and I believe that it is important to get a college degree I have really enjoyed not having to go to school anymore, I was always better at soccer than I was in school (haha). I also have to admit that I have been playing way too much x-box, monopoly, catchphrase, and poker (hahaha), what can I say, we have a lot of down time! |
Week 2
Our training sessions run Mon-Fri. with the Revs. We have morning sessions everyday from 10am-12 noon and on Mon, Wed and Fri we have an extra afternoon session from 2pm-3:30pm.
The first and second week of preseason we focused on speed strength and condition during those morning sessions. Entering into the third week of preseason the morning sessions have turned into playing sessions instead of only fitness.
The head coach Steve Nichol (Former Liverpool and Scotland International) and the first assistant Paul Mariner (Ipswich and England International) run the training sessions everyday. The goalie coach and third assistant Gwynne Williams works a lot with the goalies but also has a hand in the training sessions as well.
I came down with a bit of a sickness mid-week last week and I am still trying to find my top form since that happened. Before getting sick I felt like I was showing really well and playing at the top of my game but since the sickness I am trying to get back to top form, just a slow process as everyone at one point has had to play through sickness and come back to form, being sick is just very physically draining. |
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Week 1
I played for Rush in any attacking position, mostly as a striker or a wide midfielder but I also saw time as an attacking midfielder. At Gardner-Webb I saw action at all three of those positions as well, when I got to Charlotte I was primarily a striker but I saw a little time on the wing. Down at the combine I played as a striker for the majority of it but I also saw a few minutes at wide midfield.
My strengths as a player throughout the past few years in college have been the ability to use my speed to get in behind defenses and also create for others.
I felt like I showed very well down at the combine but I really had no idea if I was going to be drafted or not.
The first day with the Revs went really well, all the guys are really cool and laid back. Of course there is the usual banter for the rookies and what not but the first day went really well and the coaching staff does a great job of easing everyone back into things.
Right now I am just going through preseason trying to earn a contract and a senior roster spot. Hopefully when all of that works out I will just start to work on getting into the starting squad and moving up the ladder. | |
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