Gbandi, Morrison Enter SuperDraft

NEW YORK (Thursday, February 7, 2002) - Major League Soccer gained commitments from two of the best collegiate defenders in the nation today, as Chris Gbandi and Lee Morrison became the latest college standouts to sign with the League. The announcement, made by the League's Senior Vice President of Player Personnel Todd Durbin, added two first team All-Americans to the player pool for Sunday's MLS SuperDraft in Orlando, Florida.

Gbandi (BON-dee), the 2000 Hermann Trophy winner and three-time first team All-American, is a likely first round selection coveted for his physical combination of defensive and offensive skills. As a junior, the Houston, Texas native scored the game-winning goal for Connecticut in the 2000 College Cup Final and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Defender. During his senior season, Gbandi was a candidate for the Hermann Trophy and Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Player of the Year awards.

"Chris has been the best college player during the last two years," said Ray Reid, head coach at Uconn. "He is an immediate MLS Rookie of the Year candidate and I believe that one day he will represent the U.S. National Team."

During his four-year career at UConn, Gbandi became the first player to garner three-consecutive Big East Defender of the Year honors, claiming the honor each of the last three years. Gbandi also helped the Huskies make two appearances in the NCAA Cup College Cup Semifinals and capture each of the last four Big East Regular Season titles.

Morrison makes the leap to MLS following a stellar four-year career at Stanford, where he led the Cardinal to the College Cup Semifinals during his senior and freshman seasons. Anchoring the team from his center back position, the durable Californian started the last 88 games of his collegiate career. A first-team All-America selection during his final campaign, Morrison was also a member of the U.S. Under-20 National Team that advanced to the round of 16 during the 1999 FIFA World Championships in Nigeria.

When Morrison arrived at Stanford he led the Cardinal to the school's first NCAA College Cup appearance as a freshman in 1998 and marshaled a backline that posted the nation's lowest goals against average (0.44) in 2000. The 6-1, 170 pound first team All-PAC 10 selection was first team All-American as a senior after earning second team laurels as a junior. Morrison was also a candidate for the 2001 Hermann and MAC awards.

The 2002 MLS SuperDraft commences Sunday, February 10, at 12:00 noon. Fans and media not in attendance can follow the six-round, 70-selection draft via MLSnet.com or theCrew.com. The Dallas Burn own the first overall pick, while the Burn, MetroStars, D.C. United and defending MLS Cup Champion San Jose each have two selection in the 12-pick first round.

Chris Gbandi Defender 6-0, 180 Born 4-4-79 in Houston, TX University of Connecticut

College: 2001 … Received first team NSCAA All-America honors for the third straight season, and was also selected to the All-New England First Team for the fourth consecutive year … Appeared in 10 games as a senior, notching three goals for while playing in the midfield and defense …Co-captained the Huskies to a 15-5-2 record and the school's fourth consecutive Big East Regular Season Championship … Appeared in seven of UConn's nine shutouts ... Earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors for a record three consecutive seasons … Was also the first four-time All-Big East First Team selection in Conference history … Was named a finalist for both the 2001 Hermann Trophy and Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Award … Missed the first seven games of the 2001 season due to suspension … UConn posted a 3-2-2 during his absence before going 10-1 after his return ... Was a Soccer America Collegiate MVP each of the last two seasons … 2000 Captured the Hermann Trophy while leading Connecticut to the National Championship … Also received first team All-America honors ... Scored the game-winning goal in UConn's 2-0 victory over Creighton in the College Cup Final and was named the College Cup's Most Outstanding Defensive Player … Was also a MAC Award candidate … Started in all 24 games in which he appeared, and was third on the team in scoring from his defensive position with six goals and four assists (16 pts.) ... 1999 … Named 1999 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and an All-BIG EAST First-Team selection... Named a Soccer America 1999 Collegiate MVP... Earned 1999 Second Team NSCAA/adidas All-America and NSCAA First Team All-New England honors... Was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy and a Missouri Athletic Club Player of the Year Candidate ... Two-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week and Named to the Soccer America Team of the Week three times... Started all 24 games... Scored the tying goal in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Hartford... Added an insurance goal for the Huskies giving UConn a 2-0 win in the BIG EAST title game...Had six goals and six assists on the season (18 pts.) from his defensive position … 1998 … Named Big East Rookie of the Year and earned first team All-Conference honors … Was a unanimous Big East All-Rookie choice and second team All-New England selection … Started in all 21 contests ... Scored first career goal, the game-winner, in 1-0 overtime win over Pittsburgh … Anchored a Husky defense that held opponents to 13 goals in 21 games …

Prep: Earned 1997-98 Parade All-America honors as a senior at Cypress Falls High School in Houston, TX ... An All-State and All-Region selection ... Named the Houston Chronicle's Player of the Year ... Captained the Region III Olympic Development Team ... Played club soccer for the Houston Hurricanes …

Personal: Enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ... A sociology major at UConn ... Born April 4, 1979.

Lee Morrison Defender 6-1, 170 Born 8-10-79 in Carmichael, CA Stanford

U.S. National Team: A member of the U.S. Under-20 National Team at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championships in Nigeria … Former captain of the U.S. Under-18 National Team …

College: 2001 … A first team NSCAA All-American as a senior … Was also a first team All Pac-10 selection … Started all 22 matches for the Cardinal … Anchored a defense that helped Stanford advance to the NCAA College Cup where they lost to North Carolina … Finished his career by starting a school record 88 consecutive matches, including two appearances in the College Cup … Was a candidate for the Hermann Trophy and Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Player of the Year awards …Guided a backline held opponents to just 13 goals season and posted 11 shutouts … 2000 … A second team All-American, he anchored a defensive unit that posted a school record 16 shutouts with a nation-low 0.44 GAA ... Started all 22 matches ... Finished third in the voting for the MAC Award ... Selected to the All Pac-10 First Team ... 1999 … One of only six players to start all 19 games for the Cardinal … Named a First Team All-American by Soccer America and College Soccer News … Named a third team All-America by College Soccer Online … Tabbed a second team NSCAA Far West Region All-American and a First Team MPSF All-Federation selection … 1998 … As a freshman, he led Stanford to the NCAA Men's College Cup for the first time in school history … Scored the game-winning goal in the 1-0 victory over Maryland in the NCAA Semifinals … Named All-Tournament at the Men's College Cup … Selected First Team All-MPSF … One of only three players to start all 25 matches… Scored his first collegiate goal against San Jose State …

Prep: Listed among Soccer America's Top 25 recruits in the country as a senior … A two-time high school All-American at Jesuit High School … Named the 1997 Gatorade Player of the Year … Two-time Sacramento Bee High School Player of the Year (1996 and '97) … 1995 and '97 Metro League Player of the Year … Led the Marauders to four consecutive Metro League titles and the 1997 Sac-Joaquin Section Championship … Played club soccer with the San Juan Attack …

Personal: Born on August 10, 1979 … Is the son of Stephen and Jo Morrison … Has three brothers, one sister and a poodle named Shadow … Brother, Erik, is a former Stanford soccer standout … Enjoys playing the piano.

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