The New England Revolution selected four players, including the No. 1 overall pick, at the 2013 MLS SuperDraft at the Indiana Convention Center on Thursday.
The Revolution chose Generation adidas defender Andrew Farrell, 20, from the University of Louisville as the No. 1 pick.
Farrell was an NSCAA first-team All-America honoree this year following a strong three-year career at Louisville, where he scored six goals and added three assists. He started in all 44 games he played in the last two seasons and earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2012. The 5-11, 185-pound defender transitioned from the midfield as a junior and is projected as a central defender or a right back at New England.
Farrell was one of seven members of the 2013 Generation adidas class to be selected in the draft and all within the first 14 picks. As a Generation adidas player, Farrell signed with MLS prior to the draft and was automatically added to New England’s roster, while the other three picks will come into preseason unsigned.
New England acquired the first overall pick in a trade with Toronto FC on Wednesday night, making Farrell the Revolution’s highest-ever draft pick. The Revolution’s previous highest pick – second overall in 2002 – was the club’s all-time leading scorer, Taylor Twellman.
F/M Donnie Smith (UNC-Charlotte) – 21st overall
Smith, 22, was a 2012 NSCAA Scholar All-America and first-team Scholar All-South Region selection after scoring four goals and adding four assists in 19 appearances (16 starts) with UNC-Charlotte. In 2011, he earned second-team All-Atlantic 10 Conference and second-team NSCAA Scholar All-South Region honors, scoring five goals and registering three assists in 25 appearances (10 starts). He was also named to the 2011 NCAA College Cup All-Tournament team after helping the 49ers advance to the College Cup. At the conclusion of his sophomore season, Smith was named to the 2010 first-team All-Atlantic 10.
F Luke Spencer (Xavier) – 23rd overall
Spencer, 22, led the Atlantic 10 in goals (14), goals per game (.64) and points per game (1.64) in the 2012 season at Xavier. He also recorded eight assists in 22 appearances (20 starts) and earned first-team NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic Region and first-team All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors this year. In 2011, Spencer was named to the NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic Region second team and second-team All-Atlantic 10 after scoring seven goals and adding six assists in 21 appearances (19 starts). As a freshman, he was named to the Atlantic 10 all-rookie team.
GK Luis Soffner (Indiana) – 36th overall
Soffner, 23, was a four-year starter at Indiana and backed the Hoosiers to the 2012 NCAA Championship while earning NCAA College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player honors. He started 83 of 84 career matches, and as a senior, posted an 0.72 goals against average with 12 shutouts. His 16 wins as a senior were the most at IU since 2004 (19). On his career, Soffner was 47-26-11 with an 0.93 GAA. His 32 career shutouts and 262 career saves both rank fourth, respectively, in IU history.
Boston College sends 2 to MLS
Boston College had midfielder Kyle Bekker go No. 3 to Toronto FC and forward Charlie Rugg go No. 19 to defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy. Boston College was one of three schools, along with the University of Notre Dame and the University of Maryland, to have two players selected in the first round. BC is under managed by head coach Ed Kelly.
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