Four United Alumni Selected In MLS Supplemental Draft; Set Club Draft Record
1.17.12
READING, Pa. (January 17, 2012) – Reading United set a new team record during Tuesday’s MLS Supplemental Draft, as four more United alumni are taking their talents to Major League Soccer. A grand total of seven United alums heard their names called this past week between the MLS SuperDraft and the Supplemental Draft, crushing the previous record of four set last year. This is the first year the United have had former players drafted in the Supplemental Draft, as 2009 alum Dawyne Smith, two year alum Evans Frimpong, and 2011 alums Brian Ownby and Christian Barreiro heard their names called this year.
Smith was the 3rd overall selection by the New England Revolution after finishing his senior year at Bethel (NAIA) with another United alumni, Mario Vila Boa. A Kingston, Jamaica native, he played in 77 games at Bethel, scoring 46 goals with 39 assists. Smith was named as a Third Team All-American this past season, guiding Bethel to the NAIA Division I Playoffs for the fourth straight season. While with the (then) Reading Rage in 2009, Smith played in 13 games, netting three goals with one assist.
Ownby was the next to hear his name called, drafted 7th overall by the Houston Dynamo, where he’ll join another United alum, Alex Dixon. Ownby put up 11 points (4 goals, 3 assists) in only four games for the United. During his career at Virginia, he found the back of the net on 21 occasions, passing out 10 helpers in 72 games. A first-team All-ACC selection in 2010, Ownby was also one of the 21 players that represented the United States at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt.
Frimpong was picked up by the Chicago Fire with the 9th overall selection. Playing on the wing for the United the past two seasons, Evans netted one goal and four assists. He came into his own during his senior season at Delaware, tallying 29 points on 12 goals and five assists, earning him a chance to showcase his skills with Barreiro at the MLS Combine. His superb senior campaign garnered him second team NSCAA All-American and Mac Hermann Trophy semifinalist honors.
Barreiro became another member of the Philadelphia Union’s River End to be selected by the New York Red Bull, being scooped up with the 50th overall pick, joining United alum, and Reading, PA native, Corey Hertzog. Christian led Penn and set career highs in goals (7) and points (21) during his senior year. He also led the Ivy League in assists for the second straight season with seven, guiding him to his second first team All-Ivy League nod. An attacking, play-making midfielder, Barreiro notched four goals and a team-high seven assists for the United this past summer.
The United had three players drafted in the MLS SuperDraft last Thursday, including the #1 overall pick in Andrew Wenger. UNC defender Matt Hedges was selected #11 overall by FC Dallas, while the Philadelphia Union selected a Reading United alumnus for the second straight season in Raymon Gaddis.
ABOUT READING UNITED AC
Reading United A.C. (formerly Reading Rage) is the Greater Reading area’s premier minor league soccer team. Led by the ownership group of Berks Professional Sports, Inc. the club was founded in 1995 as the Reading Rage. As the club entered its 15th season a name, logo, and color change was made to better feature the ties to the local and state community as well as the soccer goals of the team and its partners. Reading United is a Player Development Partner of the Philadelphia Union MLS team. For more information about Reading United AC, visit http://www.readingunitedac.com.
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