| |
Stephen Arias Chosen by Chivas USA in 2005 MLS SuperDraft
BALTIMORE, Md. (January 14, 2005) -
Senior back Stephen Arias (Bakersfield, Calif.) of the University of
Connecticut men’s soccer team was selected by Chivas USA as the second pick in
the fourth round (38th overall pick) of the 2005 Major League Soccer (MLS)
SuperDraft held in Baltimore, Md., at the Baltimore Convention Center on Friday
afternoon.
Arias played in 54 games over his career at Connecticut, with
44 starts, and scored one goal and seven assists for nine career points. As a
junior, he earned the team’s Eric S. Lund Award for Most Improved Player. Club
Deportivo Chivas USA is one of two expansion teams that begin play in the MLS in
2005.
Connecticut has had 11 former soccer players join the MLS over the last six
years, including four draft picks during the 2002 SuperDraft. Most recently, in
2004, Lindon Pecorelli was selected by the San Jose Earthquakes as the 10th pick
in the third round. In 2003, Damani Ralph was drafted by the Chicago Fire and
Shavar Thomas joined the Dallas Burn. Chris Gbandi was the overall No. 1 draft
pick by the Dallas Burn in the SuperDraft in 2002, and was joined by Sam Forko
and Mansour Ndiaye who were drafted by the NY/NJ Metro Stars and Bryheem Hancock
who joined the Los Angeles Galaxy. In 2001, after UConn claimed the 2000
National Championship title, Brent Rahim was drafted by Los Angeles and Darin
Lewis was picked up by the Metro Stats. Bobby Rhine and Maurizio Rocha became
the first Huskies to be drafted into the MLS in 1999. Rhine became a member of
the Dallas Burn, while Rocha was drafted by the Miami Fusion as a Project-40
athlete.
|
