Burse making waves in Dallas, MLS

Courtesy of OSU Athletics Former OSU goalkeeper Ray Burse Jr. is getting time in goal for Major League Soccer's FC Dallas. Burse was the 30th overall selection in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft.

When asked about Ray Burse Jr., his former coach has trouble describing him without using the A-word.

"He's the most athletic goalkeeper that I've ever coached in college soccer," said Ohio State coach John Bluem, who is in his 17th season as a collegiate head coach. "He's got tremendous strength, range, leaping ability [and] quickness - he's the complete package as an athlete."

Burse harnessed his athleticism and became one of the most successful goalkeepers in OSU history from 2002-2005. He was the first goalkeeper taken in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft (30th pick by FC Dallas) and earned considerable playing time in just his second season in the league. Some have described him as one of a new breed of goalkeepers that has the skills to be a field player as well.

"(Playing in the MLS) is something I've definitely wanted to do since the inception of the league back in '96," said Burse, who collected 162 saves (third all-time) and 13 shutouts (fifth all-time) during his OSU career.

Not long after the MLS draft he earned a spot on the Dallas reserve squad for the 2006 season but did not make any appearances with the first team.

"I knew there was going to be some transition time that I needed in order to get better and to accommodate myself more," Burse said.

Injuries to both goalkeepers ahead of him on the depth chart last season allowed Burse to make his professional debut on July 24 against CD Guadalajara in the inaugural SuperLiga tournament. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

In his first MLS game and start, Burse shut out the Colorado Rapids 1-0 on Aug. 4.

"The transition period wasn't as long as I thought it would be," he said.

Not bad for a guy who primarily played forward during high school and came to OSU with limited experience as a goalkeeper.

Burse earned All-American honors as a forward during his senior season at St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Ky. At the end of his senior season, he suffered an ankle injury that prevented him from playing forward for his club team, the Javanon Soccer Club. Rather than sit, he elected to become the full-time goalkeeper for Javanon.

Bluem, who had only seen him play for Javanon that year, recruited Burse as a goalkeeper and attended the National Coaches Convention in January 2002 unaware of his versatility.

Burse had not yet signed his letter of intent to OSU when Bluem went to the convention and sat with the family of forward Kevin Nugent, a fellow high school all-American who had already signed his letter of intent to OSU.

"Kevin comes back from getting his all-American award and he says, 'You know there's another guy up there (one of the All-Americans) that says he's going to Ohio State,'" Bluem said. "So we get the program out and started looking through it...(and) it's Ray Burse. He played forward for his high school team and made all-American as a forward in Louisville...and we recruited him as a goalkeeper."

After playing in one match his freshman year at OSU, Burse began to see increased game action during his sophomore season. He relinquished a fraction of that time to then-freshman goalkeeper Casey Latchem in 2004, before starting every game his senior year.

"It was a working relationship - we came out to train hard against each other," Latchem said. "(We) definitely had a real heavy competitive spirit (and) I think it made us both better."

Both Latchem and Bluem said they expected an MLS team to draft Burse because of his athleticism and ability to make saves, but Burse said he has become a more intelligent goalkeeper since draft day.

"It's not all about making saves," Burse said. "I try to make sure I do the little things right in a game."

This season was especially hectic for the 23-year-old. In addition to making his professional debut and six other starts for Dallas, he graduated this summer from OSU with a bachelor's degree in American history. The date of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft (Jan. 20, 2006) precluded him from completing his degree in four years.

"I walked (during summer commencement), but I still have paperwork and some other things I need to get done," he said. "But I've elected to worry about that in the offseason."

The offseason officially began Nov. 2 for Dallas, which lost to reigning MLS Cup champion Houston in the first round of the playoffs.

After only two years in professional soccer, Burse said he has become more comfortable with his situation.

"It's taken some time to get adjusted to, but now I think my second year in, I've made my little niche in Dallas and gotten acclimated pretty well," he said.

Kyle Clapham can be reached at clapham.6@osu.edu.