April 4, 2008

SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University's newcomers in Major League Soccer have yet to see their regular-season debuts in the professional ranks, but all three players remain on the roster of their respective clubs.

George Josten, drafted in the second round as the 20th pick overall by the Columbus Crew in the January MLS Draft; Austin Washington, drafted in the fourth round as the 54th pick overall by the Chicago Fire, and Vito Higgins, a free agent signee by the LA Galaxy, are all awaiting their first regular-season action.

Gonzaga's fourth player in the MLS, Houston Dynamos veteran forward Brian Ching, now in his seventh season, was in the starting lineup in the Dynamos opener.

Josten, Washington and Higgins all signed developmental contracts with their respective clubs, Higgins signing just last week with the Galaxy after surviving open tryouts in February. Higgins has been training with the first team since the middle of February, and was available for duty last Sunday when the Galaxy tied the Colorado Rapids 1-1 in a Reserve Division game. He did not see action in that match.

Columbus' reserve squad defeated the University of Alabama-Birmingham 4-0 in a reserve friendly at the Crew's Obetz Training Facility last Sunday, Josten scoring the second goal.

The possibility exists any of the three players could be "loaned" to other teams, such as teams in the USL, in order to get playing experience. The Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers are two teams that play in the USL.