Ned Grabavoy
Encyclopedia
Ned Grabavoy is an American
soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake
in Major League Soccer
.
Grabavoy attended Lincoln-Way Central High School
, a large suburban Chicago
school, where he played under coach Brian Papa. He led the Knights to two straight Illinois State Class AA Championship games, and as a senior, was named the 2000-01 Gatorade
National High School Player of the Year. Grabavoy played three years of college soccer
at Indiana University. Grabavoy was a unanimous All Big-10 selection as a sophomore, and was voted an NCAA First Team All-American
as a junior. Grabavoy led Indiana University to an NCAA Championship his 3 year.
, and signed a Project-40
contract with MLS, and was subsequently selected 14th overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft
by the Los Angeles Galaxy
. In his first year with the Galaxy, Grabavoy played 928 minutes, registering a goal and three assists. He added three assists in his second season, while fighting for playing time as LA won the MLS Cup
and U.S. Open Cup double. In May 2006, Grabavoy was traded to the Crew in a four-player deal.
Grabavoy was selected by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2007 MLS Expansion Draft
. He was waived by the club on March 3, 2009, but was picked up by Real Salt Lake
in the Waiver Draft later that same day. Grabavoy scored the winning penalty kick on November 14, 2009 at Chicago Fire to give Real Salt Lake their first conference championship and first trip to the MLS Cup final. Real Salt Lake beat Los Angeles Galaxy
in the final for it first championship. He scored his first Real Salt Lake goal on May 29, 2010 against the Kansas City Wizards at Rio Tinto Stadium, the fourth goal in a 4-1 RSL victory.
youth teams, including the U-20 team, which he played for in the FIFA World Youth Championship, and recently the U-23 team.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Youth and College
Grabavoy played his youth soccer with the Chicago Magic Soccer Club under coach Mike Matkovich.Grabavoy attended Lincoln-Way Central High School
Lincoln-Way Central High School
Lincoln Way Central High School or LWCHS, is a public four-year high school located approximately 3.5 miles south of Interstate 80 near the intersection of Schoolhouse Rd. and the Lincoln Highway in New Lenox, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States...
, a large suburban Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
school, where he played under coach Brian Papa. He led the Knights to two straight Illinois State Class AA Championship games, and as a senior, was named the 2000-01 Gatorade
Gatorade
Gatorade is a brand of sports-themed food and beverage products, built around its signature product: a line of sports drinks. Gatorade is currently manufactured by PepsiCo, distributed in over 80 countries...
National High School Player of the Year. Grabavoy played three years of college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at Indiana University. Grabavoy was a unanimous All Big-10 selection as a sophomore, and was voted an NCAA First Team All-American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
as a junior. Grabavoy led Indiana University to an NCAA Championship his 3 year.
Professional
Following his junior season, Grabavoy played for coach Mike Matkovich with the Chicago Fire Reserves in the Premier Development LeagueUSL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, and signed a Project-40
Generation adidas
Generation adidas is a joint venture between Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer aimed at raising the level of young soccer talent in the United States. The program, sponsored by adidas, encourages early entry of American players into MLS...
contract with MLS, and was subsequently selected 14th overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft
2004 MLS SuperDraft
The 2004 MLS SuperDraft, held in Charlotte, North Carolina on January 16, 2004, was the fifth incarnation of the annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft, and was most notable for the selection of one of the youngest athletes in American sporting history, Freddy Adu, with the first pick.-Player...
by the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
. In his first year with the Galaxy, Grabavoy played 928 minutes, registering a goal and three assists. He added three assists in his second season, while fighting for playing time as LA won the MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
and U.S. Open Cup double. In May 2006, Grabavoy was traded to the Crew in a four-player deal.
Grabavoy was selected by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2007 MLS Expansion Draft
2007 MLS Expansion Draft
The 2007 MLS Expansion Draft was held on November 21, 2007, and is a special draft for the Major League Soccer expansion team San Jose Earthquakes...
. He was waived by the club on March 3, 2009, but was picked up by Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
in the Waiver Draft later that same day. Grabavoy scored the winning penalty kick on November 14, 2009 at Chicago Fire to give Real Salt Lake their first conference championship and first trip to the MLS Cup final. Real Salt Lake beat Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
in the final for it first championship. He scored his first Real Salt Lake goal on May 29, 2010 against the Kansas City Wizards at Rio Tinto Stadium, the fourth goal in a 4-1 RSL victory.
International
Grabavoy has also had a significant role with United States nationalUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
youth teams, including the U-20 team, which he played for in the FIFA World Youth Championship, and recently the U-23 team.
Los Angeles Galaxy
- Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
MLS Cup (1): 2005
Real Salt Lake
- Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
MLS Cup (1): 20092009 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. The season began on March 19 and ended with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup 2009, on November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington-Changes from the 2008 season:... - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Eastern Conference Championship (1): 20092009 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. The season began on March 19 and ended with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup 2009, on November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington-Changes from the 2008 season:...