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Emory, Holody on Rapids roster
Steven Emory makes a scissors stop while practicing with the Rapids on Feb. 25, 2011, in Commerce City. Emory, the two-time RMAC player of the year, became the first former Roadrunner to make it to the MLS. (Photograph by Joel Baud/ColoradoSoccerNow.com.)
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Steven Emory, became the first Roadrunner to make it into the top flight of U.S. professional soccer this week when he signed a contract with the Colorado Rapids.
Emory, a 6-foot-2 midfielder from Fort Collins, finished his career at Metropolitan State College of Denver this past fall as one of the most prolific players in school history.
Superlative Career: Emory was named first team All-America by both the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and Daktronics, and finished his career as a two-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Daktronics Central Region Player of the Year. He scored 17 goals and had 10 assists for 44 points in 2010, the third-highest point total in school history. In his four-year career, he totaled 99 points on 38 goals and 23 assists, ranking third in school history in points and assists and fourth in goals. Emory finished as Metro State’s all-time leader in shot attempts (268) and second in shots on goal (135). He led Metro State to four winning seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Metro State head coach Ken Parsons compared Emory to two other players he coached at Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix who have reached MLS in Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders) and Spencer Thompson (Portland Timbers).
“If I look at those players, Steven included, and look at the vast majority of the other players that I have coached, those three players really worked at their game and really worked at the things necessary to make themselves better,” Parsons said. “It really says something when (Metro State baseball coach Tom Carcione) is stopping by Red Rocks Amphitheater to show his girlfriend around Denver and runs into Steven working out there in December. It shows his work ethic and desire to be the best.”
Emory was among 57 players to take part in a three-day tryout with the Rapids in January 2011 and becomes the first player in school history to join an MLS squad following his playing career at Metro State. Emory led Fort Collins High School to a state championship in 2005 before committing to Metro State, where he helped the Roadrunners to four winning seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Emory was also a member of the Rapids Youth Academy in 2007.
Other Moves: Along with signing Emory, the Rapids also re-signed Michael Holody on Tuesday.
Holody was originally selected by the Rapids in the fourth round, 59th overall, of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. He appeared in more games than any other rookie for the Rapids during the 2009 season playing in four games for 80 minutes and scoring one goal. Last season, he did not make an appearance for the Rapids before being waived on September 15. Holody finished his collegiate career at the University of Michigan as the school’s all-time leader in minutes played (6,498).
These roster moves give the Rapids 25 players currently under contract. All MLS club’s first team rosters are comprised of up to 30 players who are all eligible for selection to each 18-player game day squad during the regular season and playoffs.
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