Combine notes: First-day jitters

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Even players like University of Maryland midfielder and Generation adidas selection Jeremy Hall felt the first-day jitters Saturday at the adidas MLS Player Combine.

"Everyone comes out nervous," Hall said. "Everybody's trying to make a team. We want to show the coaches that we can fit on a roster. Hopefully, the next two days will settle down a bit."

With a Generation adidas contract in hand, Hall has a little bit less to worry about than most draft picks. That deal ensures Hall will play somewhere in the league next year.

"It was a tough decision, but with Generation adidas, it was a good opportunity for me with the roster spots being cut down," Hall said. "I had a good year last year, but I want to challenge myself and take it to the next level. It was a good opportunity for me to take."

The former U.S. U-17 international didn't have much left to prove for the Terrapins after winning a national championship in 2007 and scoring 14 goals in 26 games this season while being named First Team All-ACC.

Despite the goalscoring exploits, Hall might project more as a wide midfielder on the professional level and played on the right hand of midfield for adiPure in its opening match.

"I haven't talked to any teams about it," Hall said. "I'm just trying to go out there and play."

Pontius and Marosevic give PowerSwerve victory: Chris Pontius and Peri Marosevic scored in the first half to give PowerSwerve a 2-0 victory over adiTunit in the first match of the day.

After an even first 20 minutes, Pontius gave PowerSwerve the lead without warning after the ball fell to the UC-Santa Barbara striker on the edge of the penalty area. Pontius collected and thrashed home into the upper left corner, leaving Akron goalkeeper Evan Bush with no chance.

Marosevic doubled the lead two minutes before halftime after adiTunit failed to clear. As the ball bounced around in the penalty area, the University of Michigan and Generation adidas striker eluded his marker and poked home the loose ball from close range to double the lead heading into the break.

Adituit head coach Caleb Porter sent on Steve Zakuani (Akron) and Omar Gonzalez (Maryland) in the second half to try to help his side grab a foothold in the game, but PowerSwerve held out to ensure victory.

Seabrook tally enough to ensure adiPure win: University of South Florida striker Jordan Seabrook finished a tidy move in the 28th minute to give adiPure a 1-0 win over adidas Tiro in the second game of the day.

Adidas Tiro started the more assured of the two teams and heaped most of the pressure on adiPure. With Wake Forest midfielder Michael Lahoud and University of Illinois-Chicago standout Baggio Husidic pulling the strings in midfield, adidas Tiro kept more of the possession and used the wide players to good effect.

But adiPure scored against the run of play in a rare venture forward. UNC-Greensboro midfielder Jokul Elisbetarson stepped into vacant space on the edge of the adidas Tiro penalty area. Elisbetarson knocked a pass through for Seabrook to finish first-time past Albany goalkeeper Steward Ceus to give adiPure a lead it wouldn't reliquish.

Both teams made a host of chances during the second half, but adiPure held on for the opening day victory.