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News Release

THREE RETRIEVERS CHOSEN IN MAJOR INDOOR SOCCER LEAGUE DRAFT

2/22/2005

Derek McElligott earned First Team All Conference honors for four consecutive seasons.

UMBC forward Derek McElligott (Baltimore, Md./Greater Grace Academy) was selected in the first round of the 2005 Major Indoor Soccer League College draft by the Baltimore Blast, and Retriever teammates Danny Mongello (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake) and Mike Pennacchia (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall College) were drafted by the rival Cleveland Force in the second and fourth rounds respectively.

McElligott was the seventh overall selection and is UMBC’s Division I leader in goals (47) and total points (106). McElligott surpassed the two-year total of 41 goals and 100 points of Giuliano Celenza, whom he hopes to join on the Blast squad. Celenza, the 2004 MISL All Star game MVP, is amongst the leading scorers in the league this season.  McElligott was a four-time All Conference and three-time all regional selection.

Mongello had an injury-plagued 2004 season, but was an All Conference midfielder in 2004. The speedy Mongello started in 49 of 50 contests through his first three seasons and also played as a marking back during his tenure. He was the eleventh player selected overall.

Pennacchia, a defender, will join Mongello in Cleveland. He started in all 70 games he appeared in, missing just two this season due to a severe ankle sprain. A tough competitor, Pennacchia produced his best season offensively in 2004, scoring 3 goals and adding 4 assissts.

Since 1999, no less than 12 UMBC players have been drafted professionally in this country.  Celenza and current Blast teammates Billy Nelson, P.J. Wakefield and Brian Rowland have won MISL titles with the Blast and are mainstays of the 2004-05 squad.

“The selections today are a reflection of success we’ve had over the last several years and a reflection on the players that have gone on to perform well in the MISL,” said UMBC Head Coach Pete Caringi. Over the last several years, we’ve had an All-Star MVP (Celenza), two rookies of the year (Nelson, Wakefield) , and this year’s current leading goal scorer. The reputation of UMBC throughout the MISL is such that they can depend on our players coming right in and being ready for the professional ranks.”