Fri Jan 18 18:56:33 2008

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MLS SuperDraft: Wizards take Myers first

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Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Wizards took UCLA's Chance Myers first overall in the 2008 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, held on Friday at the Baltimore Convention Center.

Myers, a 20-year-old defender/midfielder, was considered by many the best sideline player in the draft. He is a versatile player who can play fullback or wing.

"It's a dream come true," said Myers, who was a First Team All-Pac-10 selection this season. "I will bring a strong work ethic and team attitude to Kansas City. Playing at UCLA taught me how to adapt and play at a high level. I look forward to playing with former Bruins like Jimmy Conrad, Sasha Victorine and Kevin Hartman in Kansas City."

"Chance Myers is a great young player that has a long-term future in soccer," Wizards coach Curt Onalfo said. "He is technically sound with an unbelievable engine. He is only 20-years-old, with 15 years of great soccer left. We are excited to draft a very versatile outside midfielder like Chance."

The Wizards, who had two first-round picks after acquiring the top pick from the San Jose Earthquakes for veteran defender Nick Garcia earlier this week, selected Ohio State midfielder Roger Espinoza 11th overall. Both Myers and Espinoza, 21, are members of the Generation adidas program that allows players who have not yet graduated college to join MLS while still working toward their degrees. Neither player will count on the Wizards' salary cap as long as they are involved in the Generation adidas program.

"They were the top two picks on our own power rankings," Onalfo said.

FC Dallas selected United States U-17 defender/midfielder Brek Shea with the second pick while Real Salt Lake selected midfielder/defender Anthony Beltran, Myers' teammate at UCLA, with the third pick.

"I'm overwhelmed right now," Beltran said. "I had a lot of hope that I would go to Utah. It seems like a great situation for me to start my professional career. I know (RSL goalkeeper) Chris Seitz likes it there, and one of my UCLA teammates, James Jaramillo, is from Utah, as well as my sister's best friend. I'm ready to get started."

Los Angeles and Colorado rounded out the top five picks by taking Sean Franklin, a Cal-State Northridge midfielder/defender, and Ciaran O'Brian, a University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) midfielder, respectively.

Columbus selected UCSB defender Andy Iro sixth, Chicago got the draft's first forward in Virginia Tech's Patrick Nyarko seventh and Dallas picked the first goalkeeper in the U-17 national team's Josh Lambo eighth.

Toronto had the next two picks, taking Connecticut defender Julius James and Wake Forest midfielder/defender Pat Phelan with its first-round picks.

"It's going to take some time for me to step in," James said. "It's going to be a process. I had no idea Toronto was interested in me, but my mind is really open. I expect a real steep learning curve and I hope the technical staff and the guys over there can just help me out."

"We are delighted to have two players of the quality of Julius and Pat," Toronto coach Mo Johnston said. "Both had superb senior years and we think they are capable of battling for a place in our first eleven. From what we have seen and heard they have all the attributes to be solid professionals."

After Espinoza went 11th, Chicago took Tulsa goalkeeper Dominic Cervi, New England, which acquired veteran defender Chris Albright from L.A. for allocation money earlier in the day, took San Francisco defender Rob Valentino 13th and Real Salt Lake took Old Dominion defender David Horst 14th to cap off the first round.

The expansion Earthquakes took Furman midfielder Shea Salinas with the first pick of the second round for their first pick of the draft.

"We are excited to add Shea to the team," San Jose coach Frank Yallop said. "He is a great attacker and plays both sides of the wing. He is a very quick and exciting player to watch."

The New York Red Bulls selected Ohio State defender Eric Brunner with the 16th overall pick, also their first of the draft.

"I think he was one of the strongest defenders in the draft," Red Bull New York Sporting Director Jeff Agoos said. "We rated him right up there with the top guys. To have him around and have him available, especially with having a need at that position, I think it was ideal for us to be able to select him."

Defending Supporters' Shield winners D.C. United picked California midfielder Andrew Jacobson 24th overall for their first pick of the draft while the champion Houston Dynamo picked Rhode Island midfielder Geoff Cameron 42nd overall to start their draft. Defending Western Conference regular season champions Chivas USA selected West Florida midfielder Keith Savage with the first pick of the fourth round, 43rd overall, for their first and only pick of the draft.