by Riley Bauling
Daily Lobo
He might be the first, but if UNM men's soccer head coach Jeremy Fishbein has anything to say about it, he won't be the last.
Departing Lobo senior goalkeeper Andrew Weber became the first men's soccer player under Fishbein to make a Major League Soccer roster.
Weber was signed to the developmental roster for D.C. United on Friday.
Fishbein said Weber has all the necessary skills to play professionally for a long time. He said Weber should open the gates for a slew of Lobos to make the jump to the professional ranks.
"We think we are going to have more go next year," Fishbein said. "That's the plan. I think everyone's got a good chance depending on how their summers go and how they train. We have a lot of guys with the ability to go pro."
Weber helped lead the 2004 Lobos to a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. UNM was seeded No. 13 in the NCAA Tournament and made it to the third round before losing to No. 4-seeded Virginia in a penalty kick shootout.
Weber leaves the Lobos with a handful of records. He is the UNM career leader in games played, minutes played, wins, saves and shutouts. He ended the 2004 season with a selection to the MPSF 1st team.
Fishbein said Weber has been signed to a one-year contract with United and should get his chance to make the first team.
"You know the first thing he has to do is establish himself as a quality professional," Fishbein said. "He's got to establish himself in terms of his efforts every day. He's got all the ability in the world. He has to improve and get a couple breaks."
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Following his senior season, Weber was not invited to the MLS Combine, where eligible players for the MLS SuperDraft are evaluated while playing games in front of MLS coaches and scouts.
Fishbein said despite the snub, he knew Weber would eventually make a professional roster. He said Weber tried out for several teams, but D.C. United seemed the most interested after Weber's one-week trial with the team.
Weber joins three other Lobos who have played in the MLS. UNM's all-time leading scorer and a 1997 graduate, Justin Sells, played for the San Jose Clash. Richard Farrer, a 1992 graduate, played seven seasons for the Dallas Burn, while his former teammate and fellow '92 graduate, Edmundo Rodriguez, played for the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and Kansas City Wizards.
Weber could not be reached for comment.
