2015 MLS SuperDraft Set for Thursday in Philly
1/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Several Terrapins will hope to have their name called Thursday as the 2015 Major League Soccer SuperDraft kicks off at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia beginning at 12:30 p.m. on MLSSoccer.com.
Dan Metzger is poised to be a first round selection after already signing with Major League Soccer earlier this month. Metzger was a two-time first team all-conference selection, once in the ACC and once in the Big Ten, and led Maryland to two trips to the College Cup during his four-year stint in College Park.
In the MLSsoccer.com preview of potential top holding midfielders in this year's draft, Metzger was praised for being “tough enough to play in an MLS midfield, has great feet for his position and has spent the last few years distributing to one of the best offenses in college soccer.”
Fellow senior Alex Shinsky is another name that could possibly be called at Thursday's draft. Shinsky had a breakout campaign this season, garnering First Team All-Big Ten honors after notching two goals and four assists in 18 games as a captain for the Terps in 2014.
Other seniors who have the potential to be drafted in the supplemental draft or signed include Mikias Eticha and Jereme Raley.
Eticha tallied three goals and added four assists while starting in 16 games for the Terrapins in 2014. He played a crucial role to Maryland's offensive success the second half of the season. He was a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Raley spent five years at Maryland and played a myriad of positions for the Terps, including his ultimate role as a defender. Raley guided the Terps to nine shutouts in 2014 and helped Maryland to its fourth conference crown in his five year-tenure.
Other news and notes from this year's postseason include Mikey Ambrose, who inked a contract with the Austin Aztex. Ambrose was one of Maryland's top defenders for three seasons and will forgo his senior campaign to turn pro. Ambrose – who will return to his native Texas – logged over 2,000 minutes while starting in all 22 games for the Terps in 2014. He was a two-time second-team all-conference honoree, once in the ACC and once in the Big Ten.
The first two rounds of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft will take place in Philadelphia, with the final two rounds slated for Tuesday, January 20, via a conference call.
Last season, Patrick Mullins and Schillo Tshuma were both selected in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft, marking the 11th straight season Maryland boasted at least one selection. It was the fourth straight year the Terps had at least one player taken in the first round.
Below is a breakdown of Terps and the MLS SuperDraft:
2014 – Patrick Mullins, first round (11th overall)
2014 – Schillo Tshuma, first round (17th overall)
2013 - John Stertzer, first round (12th overall)
2013 - Taylor Kemp, first round (17th overall)
2012 - Casey Townsend, first round (fifth overall)
2011 - Zac MacMath, first round (fifth overall)
2011 - Billy Cortes, third round (38th overall)
2011 - Jason Herrick, third round (45th overall)
2010 - Drew Yates, second round (29th overall)
2010 - Kevin Tangney, third round (35th overall)
2009 - Omar Gonzalez, first round (third overall)
2009 - Rodney Wallace, first round (sixth overall)
2009 - Jeremy Hall, first round (11th overall)
2009 - A.J. Delagarza, second round (19th overall)
2009 - Graham Zusi, second round (23rd overall)
2008 - Stephen King, third round (40th overall)
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)
1998 - Leo Cullen, first round (first overall)
1998 - R.T. Moore, third round (34th overall)
