As the newest member of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, midfielder Michael Nanchoff could be forgiven for having the ability to see into the future.
The University of Akron star, and Generation adidas signing with Major League Soccer, revealed that both himself and his mother Marian had a feeling - if not a premonition - that the Blue and White would select the 22-year-old in Thursday's MLS SuperDraft.
"My mom got a new iPad for Christmas, and while she was using it, she told me that she had a really good feeling that I was going to be drafted by Vancouver," Nanchoff told whitecapsfc.com. "My mom ended up Google searching how far away Vancouver was from my home in Ohio. Then Wednesday night before the draft, I kind of pictured myself in a Whitecaps jersey for some reason. To then be drafted by Vancouver was pretty sweet for me."
As the eighth overall pick in this year's SuperDraft, Nanchoff is now counting down to next Thursday when he reports to his new club for preseason. "It's a great feeling knowing I will be out in Vancouver next week to get things started," he said. "I've heard nothing but great things about Vancouver as a city, but also some phenomenal things about the fan base and the community itself. I'm looking forward to meeting everybody there."
An attack-minded midfielder, the native of North Royalton, Ohio, is in consideration for a role on the left-hand side of head coach Teitur Thordarson's midfield. Nanchoff is excited by the prospect of making an impact in MLS this season. "What I've heard about Whitecaps FC is that the team likes to play an entertaining style of soccer, which I think is a good fit for me," he said. "Just like everybody else, I have to come into camp and put my mark on it."
Thursday in Baltimore, Maryland, was not only a special day for Nanchoff, it was also another historic landmark for the University of Akron. Five of the top eight picks in the SuperDraft were members of the Zips side that won the 2010 NCAA Division I men's soccer championship - the first such title in any sport in Akron's athletic history. "I have nothing but excellent things to say about Akron," Nanchoff said. "Starting from our head coach Caleb Porter, the recruits he has brought in and the vision that he has had for the program has been spectacular. It was our goal to win the NCAA College Cup in 2010, and we achieved that."
