Robert Ukrop
Encyclopedia
Robert Ukrop is a retired U.S. soccer forward
.
Ukrop, heir to the Ukrop's Super Market
chain, grew up in Richmond where he attended Collegiate School
where he starred with both the school’s golf and soccer teams. When Ukrop graduated from high school in 1988, he had partial athletic scholarship offers from Wake Forest
and the University of Richmond
. However, he chose to attend Davidson College
with no tuition assistance. At the time, Davidson had no soccer pedigree, but Ukrop brought it into national prominence during his four seasons there. His junior year, Ukrop scored 22 goals and assisted on 12, earning him second team All American honors. However, he broke his leg at the start of the 1991 season. As a result, he was a medical redshirt
that year, but came back strong in 1992. In 1992, his last season at Davidson, Ukrop led the nation in scoring, bagging 31 goals and assisting on 10 others. He also led Davidson to the NCAA Final Four only to fall to San Diego
3-2 in overtime
in the semifinals. That year, Ukrop was named a first team All American
and the ISAA Player of the Year
. He finished his four years at Davidson with the school record in career goals (76), points (184) and assists. His points total is almost double the next player on the points list.
While still at Davidson, Ukrop played with the U.S. national B Team. After graduating from Davidson in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree
in classical studies, Ukrop went to the World University Games
with the U.S. U-23 national team. He scored two goals and added an assist in the U.S. victory over Italy. That summer he also joined the Richmond Kickers
of the USISL. The USISL had begun as a small indoor league in the Southwest U.S., but gradually expanded outdoor as well. In 1993, the Kickers joined the league, making the playoffs as a wild card team. They defeated the Charleston Battery
, then lost to the eventual USISL champion Greensboro Dynamo
.
Ukrop spent the 1993-1994 indoor season with the Baltimore Spirit of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). That year, he lost a significant amount of games when he took an elbow to his face, resulting in a broken jaw.
Ukrop then moved to the Raleigh Flyers (USISL) for the 1994 outdoor season, before moving to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). He then spent the 1994-1995 indoor season with the Dayton Dynamo
of the NPSL. The Dynamo moved to Cincinnati and renamed itself the Silverbacks
in 1995. In 1996, Ukrop rejoined the team for the 1996-1997 season.
In 1995, he was with the Richmond Kickers
when that team won the USISL title. Ukrop was a USISL Atlantic Division All Star. The Kickers also took the 1995 U.S. Open Cup
with Ukrop being named the championship game MVP.
In January 1996, the New England Revolution
drafted Ukrop in the seventh round (65th overall) of the 1996 MLS Draft
. However, he never became a regular contributor for the Revs, managing only nine games and two goals, both goals coming in the Revolution’s first game of the season. The Revs released Ukrop on June 28, 1996 and returned to the Richmond Kickers for the remainder of the season. Ukrop continued to play each season with the Kickers until he announced his retirement on December 9, 2004. Ukrop retired holding the club records for career goals (70), career assists (30), career points (170) and matches (231).
On January 24, 2004, Davidson retired Ukrop’s jersey number (#6) and inducted him into its Hall of Fame.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Ukrop, heir to the Ukrop's Super Market
Ukrop's Super Market
Ukrop's is a company that operates a central bakery and kitchen producing baked goods and prepared meals. Its baked goods are marketed under Good Meadow and Ukrop's brand. In 1976 Ukrop's bought Dot's Pastry Shop, a well-known bakery in Richmond...
chain, grew up in Richmond where he attended Collegiate School
Collegiate School (Richmond, Virginia)
Collegiate School is a preparatory school for boys and girls located in Richmond, Virginia. The student body of Collegiate comprises about 1,500 total students from Kindergarten through 12th Grade...
where he starred with both the school’s golf and soccer teams. When Ukrop graduated from high school in 1988, he had partial athletic scholarship offers from Wake Forest
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
and the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
. However, he chose to attend Davidson College
Davidson College
Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News...
with no tuition assistance. At the time, Davidson had no soccer pedigree, but Ukrop brought it into national prominence during his four seasons there. His junior year, Ukrop scored 22 goals and assisted on 12, earning him second team All American honors. However, he broke his leg at the start of the 1991 season. As a result, he was a medical redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
that year, but came back strong in 1992. In 1992, his last season at Davidson, Ukrop led the nation in scoring, bagging 31 goals and assisting on 10 others. He also led Davidson to the NCAA Final Four only to fall to San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
3-2 in overtime
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
in the semifinals. That year, Ukrop was named a 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:...
and the ISAA Player of the Year
ISAA Player of the Year
The ISAA Player of the Year was an annual U.S. college soccer award presented by the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America between 1984 and 1995. In 1984, the ISAA began recognizing outstanding men's NCAA soccer players with an annual Player of the Year award. In 1985 the ISAA expanded...
. He finished his four years at Davidson with the school record in career goals (76), points (184) and assists. His points total is almost double the next player on the points list.
While still at Davidson, Ukrop played with the U.S. national B Team. After graduating from Davidson in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in classical studies, Ukrop went to the World University Games
1993 Summer Universiade
The 1993 Summer Universiade, also known as the XVII Summer Universiade, took place in Buffalo, New York, United States of America.-Medal table:-External links:*...
with the U.S. U-23 national team. He scored two goals and added an assist in the U.S. victory over Italy. That summer he also joined the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
of the USISL. The USISL had begun as a small indoor league in the Southwest U.S., but gradually expanded outdoor as well. In 1993, the Kickers joined the league, making the playoffs as a wild card team. They defeated the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
, then lost to the eventual USISL champion Greensboro Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo is an American soccer team based in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
.
Ukrop spent the 1993-1994 indoor season with the Baltimore Spirit of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). That year, he lost a significant amount of games when he took an elbow to his face, resulting in a broken jaw.
Ukrop then moved to the Raleigh Flyers (USISL) for the 1994 outdoor season, before moving to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
(APSL). He then spent the 1994-1995 indoor season with the Dayton Dynamo
Dayton Dynamo
The Dayton Dynamo was a professional indoor soccer team from Dayton, Ohio. The team played in the American Indoor Soccer Association ....
of the NPSL. The Dynamo moved to Cincinnati and renamed itself the Silverbacks
Cincinnati Silverbacks
The Cincinnati Silverbacks was an indoor soccer club based in Cincinnati, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League. They performed under the leadership of All-Star goalkeeper, Carlos Pena. Other star players included Gino DiFlorio , Franklin McIntosh, and Dennis Brose...
in 1995. In 1996, Ukrop rejoined the team for the 1996-1997 season.
In 1995, he was with the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
when that team won the USISL title. Ukrop was a USISL Atlantic Division All Star. The Kickers also took the 1995 U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
with Ukrop being named the championship game MVP.
In January 1996, the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
drafted Ukrop in the seventh round (65th overall) of the 1996 MLS Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. However, he never became a regular contributor for the Revs, managing only nine games and two goals, both goals coming in the Revolution’s first game of the season. The Revs released Ukrop on June 28, 1996 and returned to the Richmond Kickers for the remainder of the season. Ukrop continued to play each season with the Kickers until he announced his retirement on December 9, 2004. Ukrop retired holding the club records for career goals (70), career assists (30), career points (170) and matches (231).
On January 24, 2004, Davidson retired Ukrop’s jersey number (#6) and inducted him into its Hall of Fame.