The UCLA men’s soccer team had a banner day Friday at the
ninth-annual MLS SuperDraft, as five seniors were drafted in the
first three rounds. UCLA led all universities with its five draft
picks.
Forward Matt Taylor, defender Leonard Griffin, midfielders
Adolfo Gregorio and Ty Maurin, and goalkeeper Zach Wells were the
five Bruins selected Friday.
Taylor, the first Bruin drafted, parlayed his stellar MLS
combine play into the No. 4 selection overall by the Kansas City
Wizards. The Bruin forward netted a hat trick in the finale of the
combine, impressing many scouts, coaches and general managers.
Despite his performance in the combine, Taylor was surprised
that he was drafted so high.
“I had no expectations,” Taylor told MLSnet.com.
“At the end of the year, I was satisfied but not excited
about my play. When they asked me to come out (for the combine), I
was a little confused.”
“They were telling me between No. 7 and No. 13. I would
never have expected to go in the top five.”
Griffin was the next Bruin selected. The Chicago Fire drafted
him with the first pick of the second round and were impressed with
his ability to come from the back to attack and his excellent
athleticism.
“He’s very composed on the ball, and he can go
forward from the back,” Chicago general manager Peter Wilt
said. “He has solid marking ability, and he has solid
athletic ability in the back. There is room to grow with him
athletically as well.”
Wilt also said that a reason for drafting Griffin was to help
replace UCLA alumnus Carlos Bocanegra, a defender for the U.S.
national team who recently signed a contract with Fulham of the
English Premier League.
Wilt anticipates that Griffin will see limited action right
away, but he doesn’t foresee Griffin starting.
“There’s going to be opportunities for him to
play,” Wilt said. “We tend to develop our youth players
rather slowly, so he won’t be thrown to the wolves right
away.”
The third UCLA player selected was playmaking midfielder
Gregorio, by the Colorado Rapids with the 15th pick. His ability to
create offensively was too much to pass up for Rapids head coach
Tim Hankinson, who originally planned to draft defenders with his
first two picks.
“We were very pleased to see Adolfo Gregorio of
UCLA,” Hankinson told MLSnet.com. “We think he has
special qualities. He has great creativity in his midfield game and
can play central, right or left.”
Wells was drafted by the New York/New Jersey Metrostars with the
21st selection. Wells will be the backup goalkeeper for the
Metrostars, providing insurance for starter Jonny Walker.
Maurin was the 29th selection in the draft, taken by the Dallas
Burn.
He will have to compete with nine other midfielders for a spot
on the team.