CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Big South Conference will send four players to the 2009 MLS combine on Jan. 9-13 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  Daniel Revivo and Otto Loewy will represent Winthrop, while Liberty’s Joshua Boateng and Kyle Russell of Coastal Carolina will also participate in the combine.

Revivo is Winthrop's all-time scorer at the Division I Level and just the third player in school history to reach 50 or more goals in a career. The 2008 Big South Player of the Year scored 14 goals and had nine assists this past season. He's also a two-time NSCAA/adidas All-South Atlantic Region Team selection.

 Loewy is a defender loaded with accolades as well and helped anchor a defense that led the Big South in goals against average two of the past three seasons. In 2006 and 2007 the team finished among the nation's best in goals against average. 

Boateng, who just completed his Liberty career this fall, becomes the first Flame ever to receive an invitation to the combine. During his three years at Liberty, the Flames posted a 32-16-5 record, and last season, won the Big South Championship.  For his play during Liberty’s first-ever conference title run, the Accra, Ghana native was named the Big South Tournament MVP.  This past fall, the  forward/midfielder was a first-team All-South Atlantic and All-Big South performer in his final season at Liberty.  Boateng compiled 32 points on 13 goals and six assists during the year, tying him for fifth on the program’s single-season points list. His 13 goals also tie him for sixth on the Liberty single-season goal list. The Hermann Trophy candidate ranked 12th in the nation in points per game (1.78) and 13th in goals per game (0.72). Boateng led the Big South in points per game, goals per game and was tied for first in game-winning goals with five.

Russell has been a staple in the Coastal Carolina defense the past four seasons, earning First Team honors.  He leaves the program tied for eighth in career matches started (74) and is one of only 10 Chants in program history to play in 78 career games. A two-time All-Big South selection, he was also named to the Big South All-Tournament team, as well as the UNCW/Courtyard by Marriott All-Tournament team in his senior season. In his final season as a Chanticleer, Russell showed true durability, as he was one of three Chants to start all 21 contests.

The coaching and management staffs of all 15 MLS teams will be in attendance to scout talent at the 2009 adidas MLS Player Combine, which concludes two days before the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. At the 2008 MLS SuperDraft 43 of the 56 players drafted participated in the 2008 adidas MLS Player Combine; 12 combine players were selected in the first round. The 2009 MLS SuperDraft will be held on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009 in St. Louis, Mo.

The initial player list was determined by a select panel of Division I college coaches representing all conferences who nominated and voted for players in conjunction with MLS coaches. Youth players from the Generation adidas program will join additional collegiate players from NCAA Division II and III schools, NAIA schools and Division I alternates to finalize the 2009 adidas Player Combine. The final player list and team assignments will be announced in the coming weeks.