Charlotte Star Ian Pilcher’s Invite To Showcase Is A Next Step To His MLS Career
Charlotte Men’s Soccer’s Ian Pilcher has been invited to San Diego, Calif., to participate in the 2024 adidas MLS College Showcase.
The senior defender is one of 44 college soccer players to be invited to the Showcase, which will take place from December 11-14 in San Diego, Calif. The four-day talent evaluation event will give technical staffs from each MLS club an opportunity to scout top collegiate prospects in the nation ahead of MLS SuperDraft 2025, which will take place on Friday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. ET.
“It means a lot to be invited to the MLS Showcase,” said Pilcher. “To be given an opportunity to further present my abilities in a great and competitive environment is exciting. It’s like trying to get your dream job and you got offered an internship or interview. It is exhilarating but you also still are trying to get the job by proving yourself.”
The 2024 adidas MLS College Showcase is a closed-door scouting event officially sanctioned by the NCAA. The eligible player list for MLS SuperDraft 2025 will be announced at a later date.
Pilcher earns another tremendous honor on top of being named a CSC Academic All-American and a United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-Region selection.
In 2024, Pilcher earned first-team All-AAC honors while helping lead the 49ers to their second straight American Athletic Conference Championship. The Charlotte, N.C., native, started 17 games this season, recording one goal, and captaining a back line that finished first in the nation in shutout percentage (.579) and 13th in scoring defense (.832). Pilcher was a two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Week and one-time AAC Honorable Mention of the Week.
Pilcher opened his senior campaign as a unanimous selection for the AAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honor. In 2023, he earned second-team all-region and all-conference honors, in addition to being named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 American Athletic Conference Championship. In 2021, Pilcher was named to the All-Conference USA Freshman team.
In his Charlotte career, Pilcher started 60 of 66 games, totaling five goals and 11 points. He has helped the 49ers to three NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as back-to-back AAC Championships in 2023 and 2024.
Pilcher intends to become the 17th Charlotte player selected in the MLS SuperDraft after teammate Riyon Tori was picked last season. Pilcher can also become the fifth 49er to be drafted in the first round and first since Elliot Panicco in 2020.
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