Major League Soccer’s off-season highlight is the SuperDraft, which kicked off today at 12pm from Philadelphia ET.
Throughout the day we will keep you updated on all the news from the SuperDraft as well as constantly updating all the picks as they come in.
For more information about the SuperDraft, make sure to check out Richard Farley’s ‘Guide to Major League Soccer’s annual (super) Draft.’
FIRST ROUND
1. Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union via trade with D.C. United): The 6’4″ 175 lbs University of Connecticut product was sensational in his three years at Storrs. This season, the Generation Adidas player registered 10 shutouts (0.75 GAA and 10-3-8 record) to win the American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Year award and was a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy. An athletically gifted shot-stopper, the Jamaican is known for his strength on crosses, leadership, strong organization skills, good touch on the ball and positivity.
2. Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United via trade with Philadelphia Union): The 6’2″ 180 lbs Cal centerback appeared in 19 matches for the Golden Bears, finishing the season with an impressive 10 goals and one assist. The NSCAA First Team All-American was a Hermann Trophy semifinalist and is known as a complete player with impressive aerial skills, distribution and calm on the ball.
3. Christian Dean (Vancouver Whitecaps): The 6’3″ 198 lbs Dean anchored a Cal defensive unit along with Birnbaum that allowed 21 goals in as many games and recorded seven shutouts. The First Team All-Pac-12 player scored one goal and added four assists on the way to an Elite 8 finish. The athletic left-footed centerback is known for a sensational touch on the ball and galloping runs out of the back.
4. Steve Neumann (New England Revolution): The 6′ 165 lbs striker from Georgetown was a NSCAA second-team All-American and First Team All-Big East selection after notching 10 goals and six assists in 21 games (all starts) to lead the Big East in scoring. A clever player with plenty of flicks and tricks, Neumann is a highly intelligent player capable of creating his own shot and setting others up just as well.
5. Eric Miller (Montreal Impact via trade with FC Dallas): The 6’1″ 175 lbs midfielder out of Creighton earned Second Team All-Great Lakes region honors in midfield after starting all 20 games and tallying three goals and one assist. The Generation Adidas man is versatile player who can play in the back or the midfield and is known for his fantastic stamina and aerial prowess.
6. Tesho Akindele (FC Dallas via trade with Philadelphia Union): The 6’1″ 170 lbs striker from Calgary flew up the draft boards after a strong combine. Akindele attended Division 2 Colorado School of Mines where he leaves the school’s all-time goals leader after scoring 19 goals in 19 matches this year. A powerful, strong striker who can turn on a dime.
7. Andre Lewis (Vancouver Whitecaps): The 5’9″ 145 lbs Jamaican U-17 and U-20 midfielder recently broke into the senior Reggae Boyz side in 2012. Lewis played for national soccer power St. George’s College in Jamaica and is known as a technical, creative midfielder who plays on either flank of midfield.
8. Damion Lowe (Seattle Sounders): The 6’3″ 175 lbs Jamaican played three seasons at the University of Hartford where he was named second team all-Northeast region and first team all-America East Conference in 2013. The former Jamaica U-20 international represented his country at the 2013 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.
9. JJ Koval (San Jose Earthquakes): The 6’1″ 175 lbs Stamford midfielder was the team captain who started all 21 games, tallying two goals and one assist to earn First Team All-Pac 12 honors. A solid holding midfielder, Koval is known for great vision and strong tackling ability.
10. Nick Hagglund (Toronto FC via trade with Philadelphia Union): The 6’1″ 187 lbs defender out of Xavier was named First Team All-Big East and Big East Defensive Player of the Year after anchoring a defense that allowed 19 goals and recorded six shutouts. Hagglund is the complete package for a centerback – physically imposing, strong, fast, smart and with a good touch and slick distribution skills.
11. Patrick Mullins (NE Revolution via trade with Colorado Rapids): The 6’1″ 172 lbs striker led Maryland to the NCAA College Cup championship final with 19 goals and eight assists in the regular season, followed by five goals and two assists in the postseason. An active striker known for making clever runs behind defenses, Mullins is a left-footed player who knows how to finish.
12. Marlon Hairston (Colorado Rapids via trade with NE Revolution): The 6′ 157 lbs box-to-box midfielder helped Louisville to the American Athletic Conference title with three goals and two assists. A Generation Adidas player, Hairston is known for fantastic technical ability as well as pace and timing.
13. Marco Franco (Chicago Fire): The 5′ 11″ 155 lbs right-back started all 23 matches for UC Irvine and was named Big West Defender of the Year after helping his team to the Big West Championship and a Sweet 16 finish in the NCAA tournament. A composed, quick defender, Franco is technically good on the ball and can also play center-back.
14. Ben Sweat (Columbus Crew): The 6′ 2″ 175 lbs defender is an attack minded fullback who earned First Team All-American Athletic Conference honors after helping South Florida to the AAC tournament title. A strong left-back, Sweat is good on the ball and dangerous on the attack.
15. Pedro Ribeiro (Philadelphia Union via trade with Toronto FC): The 6′ 4″ 208 lbs Brazilian midfielder scored 11 goals and seven assists in 23 games with Coastal Carolina in 2013. A MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, Ribeiro is versatile enough to play anywhere on the field but is a particularly good defender.
16. AJ Cochran (Houston Dynamo): The 6′ 3″ 195 lbs defender from the University of Wisconsin was named the Big Ten Defender of the Year after starting all 21 of the Badgers’ contests and scoring three goals. A monster in the air, Cochran also has good feet and a good sense of positioning.
17. Schillo Tshuma (Portland Timbers): The 5′ 10″ 162 lbs University of Maryland striker scored six goals and one assist in 25 games for the Terrapins before signing a Generation Adidas contract in January. Creative, tricky and lightning-quick many feel Tshuma under-performed this season but that the Zimbabwe native has more potential than Maryland teammate Patrick Mullins.
18. Ryan Neil (Real Salt Lake): The 6′ 1″ 165 lbs midfielder is the third Cal product taken in the first round of the SuperDraft after earning All-Pac-12 second team honors in his senior season. Fast, athletic and a fantastic dribbler, many feel Neil could be reborn into an attacking full-back in MLS.
19. Grant Van De Casteele (New England Revolution): The 6′ 2″ 165 lbs Notre Dame product anchored the Irish defense that allowed 18 goals and recorded 10 shutouts en route to winning the first NCAA title in the program’s history. VDC was named to the All-ACC Third Team and is known as a sizeable centerback with good feet and a penchant for attack.
