48 PDL players drafted by MLS

Dozen players among First Round selections

USL News Release

Thursday, January 14, 2010

PHILADELPHIA, PA – A dozen players with Premier Development League experience were selected in the First Round of the 2010 Major League Soccer draft Thursday afternoon at the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia. In all, 48 players with PDL experience were taken in the four-round, 64-player event.

Among the selections were the duo of former Carolina Dynamo players Zach Loyd (Dallas, 5th) and Corben Bone (Chicago, 13th). Loyd has been with the Dynamo the past three seasons. Bone was with the Dynamo in 2009 after a season with Cary.

Continuing their tradition of draft day success, the Chicago Fire of the PDL saw eight players taken on the day. Following Michael Stephens (Los Angeles) selection to round out the First Round, three were taken in the second round with Tim Ream heading to New York (18th) as Andre Akpan (22nd) Westchester Flames 2008 and Ross LaBauex (23rd) going to Colorado. The Rapids also picked up Chris Cutshaw in the fourth round Also taken were Seth Sinovic (New England, 25th), Justin Morrow (San Jose, 28th) and Chris Schuler (Salt Lake, 39th).

Taken second overall in the draft by the New York Red Bulls was Hampton Roads Piranhas 20-year old midfielder Tony Tchani, who was a member of the Piranhas’ USL Super-20 League team primarily in 2008, making a brief cameo with the PDL team. He was slated to be a member of the PDL side in 2009 before missing the campaign due to injury.

Three-year Bradenton Academic midfielder Blair Gavin, age 20, was selected 10th overall by Chivas USA. His veteran teammate Zac Boggs, who has spent six years with the club, was drafted 31st overall in the second round by New England after posting All-Conference honors in the PDL the last three years in Bradenton.

With the fourth overall selection, Kansas City took MAC Hermann award winner Teal Bunbury, who played for the Rochester Thunder in 2009.

1/16/2010