Edu Drafted First Overall In MLS SuperDraft; Seitz Taken Fourth
1/12/2007 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Jan. 12, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Junior midfielder Maurice Edu became the second men's soccer student-athlete in Maryland history to be drafted with the first overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft as he was selected by the expansion franchise Toronto FC with the draft's first selection on January 12 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Sophomore keeper Chris Seitz was taken fourth overall by Real Salt Lake. This marks just the fourth time in MLS SuperDraft history that two student-athletes from the same school were selected in the top five.
UCLA and Indiana both had a pair of picks in the top five in 2000 and the Bruins had two top five picks in 1996. UCLA is the only other team to have two players drafted this high as it had the No. 1 and No. 4 pick in 2000.
This is the second time under head coach Sasho Cirovski that a Terp has been selected with the first overall pick. Leo Cullen was taken by Miami in 1998 with the first pick in the draft. Edu and Seitz are also the seventh and eighth student-athletes under Cirovski's guidance to be taken in the first round. Since the draft's inception in 1996, Cirovski has produced 21 MLS SuperDraft picks.
Edu is the fifth student-athlete from Maryland to be selected first overall in his respective sport's draft. Men's basketball has had two top picks in John Lucas (1976) and Joe Smith (1995) and men's lacrosse had Joe Walters go No. 1 last season.
A first-team NSCAA All-American and Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2006, the 6-0, 170-pound Edu was a 55-game starter in three seasons as the defensive midfielder. He led the Terps to a national championship in 2005, an NCAA semifinal appearance in 2004 and an appearance in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen this past season. Maryland was 52-15-5 during his three seasons in a Terrapin uniform. This past season, the Fontana, Calif. product served as team captain for a young squad that finished the season 16-5-1.
Considered the college game's premier defensive midfielder, Edu was also effective on the offensive end, totaling 10 goals and 11 assists during his career. This past season, he came up with huge goals when Maryland needed them most, recording game-winners in victories against Loyola, Hartwick, Virginia Tech and Duke.
The 6-4, 210-pound Seitz earned numerous awards in 2006 as he was named a Soccer America College Men MVP, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and a third-team NSCAA/adidas All-American. Seitz was the first freshman keeper since 1990 to lead his team to the NCAA championship. In the national title match against New Mexico, Seitz made the biggest save in program history when he stopped a penalty kick in the 50th minute to preserve the Terps' 1-0 lead. The San Louis Obispo, Calif. native was an All-ACC second team selection and a member of the ACC All-Freshman squad in 2005.
Seitz finished his Maryland career with a 28-5-3 record in 37 starts. In those victories, he posted 16 shutouts. His career goals against average of 0.77 is the best ever in a Terps uniform as he bested Dom Macina's mark of 0.82.
All-Time Draft Picks Under Cirovski
2007 - Maurice Edu, first round (first overall)
2007 - Chris Seitz, first round (fourth overall)
2006 - Jason Garey, first round, (third overall)
2006 - Marc Burch, second round (24th overall)
2006 - Michael Dello-Russo, fourth round (42nd overall)
2006 - Kenney Bertz, fourth round (47th overall)
2005 - Domenic Mediate, second round (23rd overall)
2005 - Abe Thompson, supplemental draft second round (16th overall)
2005 - Noah Palmer, supplemental draft third round (25th overall)
2004 - Clarence Goodson, first round (seventh overall)
2004 - Scott Buete, first round (ninth overall)
2004 - Seth Stammler, second round (18th overall)
2004 - Sumed Ibrahim, second round (20th overall)
2002 - Taylor Twellman, first round (second overall)
2001 - Nick Downing, second round (21st overall)
2000 - Dan Califf, first round (sixth overall)
1999 - Keith Beach, second round (17th overall)
1999 - Randy Merkel, third round (33rd overall)
1999 - Steve Armas
1998 - Leo Cullen, first round (first overall)
1998 - R.T. Moore, third round (34th overall)
