Forko Shines In
Major League Soccer Rookie Season
SALT
LAKE CITY (May 16, 2006)
- Former
University of Connecticut men’s soccer player
Willis Forko (Houston, Texas) is quickly making
his presence known in his first season with Major
League Soccer’s (MLS) Real Salt Lake. The defender
has played and started in each of the last two
matches, helping RSL (1-5-1) to its first victory of
the season and first-ever on the road against the LA
Galaxy, 3-0, Saturday in Carson, Calif.
Prior to making
the start against the Galaxy, Forko moved into the
starting line-up vs. the Columbus Crew just a week
earlier.
"I
thought Willis did well," said RSL coach John
Ellinger following the rookie’s appearance against
the Crew. Forko stepped into the starting spot at
left back in place of the injured Daniel Torres just
prior to the contest.
Forko has played
in 162 minutes thus far in 2006 and is expected to
continue to contribute in the coming weeks with
fellow RSL defenders
Eddie Pope and Douglas Sequeira off training for the
2006 FIFA World Cup.
As
a Husky, Forko finished his career as a two-time
All-BIG EAST selection, playing and starting in all
65 games in his three years at UConn after
transferring from South Carolina. He took 22 shots,
scoring three goals and tallying 15 assists during
his career in Storrs. In January, he and former
teammate Mpho Moloi (Soweto, South Africa)
became the 13th and 14th players to be drafted into
the MLS under Head Coach Ray Reid.
