Jan. 15, 2009

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - For only the second time in Major League Soccer history, the University of Maryland had three players selected in the first round as Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Rodney Wallace (D.C. United) and Jeremy Hall (New York Red Bulls) were among the first 11 players selected Thursday in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft.

Gonzalez, who was selected third by the Galaxy, helped lead the Terps to the NCAA National Championship this season, solidifying a tremendous Maryland backline that surrendered a mere 18 goals in 26 games. Gonzalez, who signed a Generation adidas contract last week, started three seasons for the Terps, in which he was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2007 and then College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player, NSCAA/adidas First Team All-American and First Team All-ACC as a junior before leaving early for the MLS.

Chosen sixth by D.C. United, defender Rodney Wallace played a pivotal role in Maryland's run to the College Cup this season, starting in 25 games, scoring three goals, including the game-winner against Creighton to send the Terps to the NCAA semifinals. Wallace, who grew up in Rockville, Md., spent two years in the Maryland midfield and backline and was named to the ACC All-Freshman team in 2007 before landing on the second team as a sophomore this season. In addition to Gonzalez, Wallace is a member of Generation adidas.

Jeremy Hall heads to the 2008 MLS runner-up Red Bulls after leading Maryland in offense this season, scoring 14 goals en route to 35 points and First Team All-ACC accolades. Hall, who was selected with the 11th pick, was named ACC Tournament MVP after the Terps won their third conference tourney in early November. Hall represents the third Terrapin on Generation adidas, a nation-best number.

Rounding out the superior draft day for Maryland was the selection of departed seniors A.J. Delagarza and Graham Zusi. Delagarza will join fellow backline member Gonzalez in L.A. after being selected with the 19th pick. A workhorse in the Maryland defense for four seasons, Delagarza will bring a wealth of experience to the Galaxy, having started in the Maryland backline for three straight seasons. He was tabbed to the All-ACC Second Team this season along with being named to the College Cup All-Tournament team. Zusi, the Most Outstanding Player in this year's College Cup after hitting both game-winners for the Terps, was selected 23rd by the Kansas City Wizards. He finished as stellar career at Maryland with a pair of national titles and 28 goals and 20 assists while garnering All-ACC Second Team accolades as a senior.

"It is a great source of pride for our program to have five players selected in the first 23 picks," head coach Sasho Cirovski said from St. Louis. "Caps off to a phenomenal year for Maryland men's soccer...I'm extremely excited for all five of them. It is an exciting new chapter of their lives and being able to say they've fulfilled their dream of playing professional soccer.

"It is bittersweet for me personally because I won't be seeing these guys on a daily basis and they each have brought so much joy and accomplishment to my life."

Maryland is the first team since UCLA in 2000 to have three players selected in the first round.

2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft

Pick,Name,Team,Position
1 Steve Zakuani, University of Akron, F
2 Sam Cronin,Wake Forest University, M
3 Omar Gonzalez, University of Maryland, D
4 O'Brian White, University of Connecticut, F
5 Peri Marosevic, University of Michigan, F
6 Rodney Wallace, University of Maryland, M
7 Chris Pontius, UCSB, M/F
8 Matt Besler, University of Notre Dame, D
9 Michael Lahoud, Wake Forest University, M
10 Kevin Alston, Indiana University, D
11 Jeremy Hall, University of Maryland, M
12 Jean Alexandre, Lynn University, M
13 Stefan Frei, University of California, GK
14 George John, University of Washington, M
15 Ryan Maxwell, University of Tampa, M
16 Evan Brown, Wake Forest University, D
17 Brad Ring, Indiana University, M
18 Babajide Ogunbiyi, Santa Clara University, D
19 A.J. Delagarza, University of Maryland, D
20 Baggio Husidic Sockers, Illinois at Chicago, M
21 Milos Kocic, Loyola College (Md.), GK
22 Doug DeMartin, Michigan State University, F
23 Graham Zusi, University of Maryland, M/F
24 Andrei Gotsmanov, Creighton University, M
25 Denaldin Hamzagic, Saint Louis University, M/F