DI college players to watch in the NPSL

by Travis Clark

May 17, 2017

While the PDL is perhaps the better-known summer league the National Premier Soccer League will also featured plenty of Division I college players around the country.

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Here are seven intriguing players to watch at various NPSL teams this summer.

F Derrick Otim, Detroit City FC (Xavier)

An English import to college soccer in 2016, the former Nottingham Forest youth product enjoyed a stellar campaign in the Big East last fall. The Big East All-Freshman Team performer scored three goals and added a pair of assists. He’ll look to do the same at arguably the best known NPSL Club this summer.

M Giuseppe Barone, Grand Rapids FC (Michigan State)

The strength of the NPSL in Michigan is easy to spot, and it’s no shock to see a player of Barone’s caliber stay at home for the 2016 season. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year is one of college soccer’s brightest young players, an he should continue to roll in the NPSL this summer.

D Simen Olafsen, Brooklyn Italians SC (Connecticut)

Since joining UConn in 2015, Olafsen’s been a constant presence along the Huskies back line. The Norwegian defender’s ability on the ball is among the best in college soccer – not surprising for the former Norwegian youth national team player. Olafsen’s on Brooklyn’s roster for the upcoming NPSL campaign, where he should be a consistent selection for most of the season.

M Santiago Digiuseppe, Kitsap Pumas (San Francisco)

Part of the collection of former LA Galaxy Academy players on the roster at San Francisco, Digiuseppe agreed to head north and join up with the Pumas for the summer. He has two solid seasons of college soccer under his belt, earning Second Team All-WCC honors in 2015 and an Honorable Mention last fall. Replicating that form for Kitsap, which enters its first season in the NPSL after moving from the PDL, will go a long way to bolster San Francisco’s hopes in 2017.

D Kevin Kappock, Kingston Stockdale FC (Marist)

The 2016 MAAC All-Second Team performer has been a consistent performer for all three years of his Marist career. Kappock joins up with Kingston Stockdale FC for the first time, as the former PDA standout looks to make an impression.

F Ezana Kahsay, Erie Commodores FC (Akron)

One of Akron’s first players off the bench, Kahsay contributed four goals during his sophomore season last fall, making a total of 21 appearances. If he can leverage the summer with the Commodores into improving in front of goal, it could lead to a big year for the Eritrean.

D Fortia Munts, Fredericksburg FC (VCU)

Overseas players are far from rare in college soccer or the NPSL, though Catalan native Munts has one of the more intriguing backgrounds. Only a freshman last fall, he started the season strong for VCU, before a broken leg ended his season prematurely. Staying healthy is likely to be priority one with Fredericksburg FC, with the second staying sharp and fit and ready to be a big hit for VCU later this year.

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