Andrew Duran has already trained with Sounders FC. (Chris Coulter Photo)

In an attempt to provide depth up front and on the back line Sounders FC selected a solid defender and target forward in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft.

Seattle’s first pick (#15 overall), Andrew Duran, who comes from Creighton University, will be attempting to earn a roster spot to help sure up Sigi’s defense. Although not a “popular” selection by the pundits, the 6’1″ defender has already spent some time with the Sounders. Sigi noted that he is two footed and can play on either side of the defense.

In the second round, Seattle selected Babayele Sodade- a 6’3″ forward from UAB.

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The Seattle Sounders FC selected Creighton University defender Andrew Duran with its top pick (15th overall) and University of Alabama-Birmingham forward Babayele Sodade with its second selection (34th overall) in Thursday’s Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

“We are excited about the draft,” said Sounders FC technical director Chris Henderson. “We put in a great amount of time following the players and we are very pleased with both players we came out with.”

“Andrew is a player that we like,” said Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid. “He is a player that’s very two-footed. He’s comfortable playing on the left side of the center in the back as well as the right side. He was the main defender on the team that was the best defensive team in the country last year so he’s got to be doing something right.”

Duran, a 22-year-old defender from Creighton University, was named the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and NSCAA All-American Second Team in 2011. He made 59 appearances with 48 starts in his five seasons at Creighton, including injury-shortened seasons in 2008 and 2010. He made a career-high 24 starts as a senior and earned College Soccer News All-American First Team honors. He helped lead Creighton to one of the best defensive performances in 2011 with a 0.2 goals against average and 19 shutouts, one shy of the NCAA record.

Duran, a native of Mokena, Ill., graduated from Creighton in December 2011 with a degree in marketing and has worked at a camp for children with cancer, Co-ho-lo, outside of Omaha for the past two years.

“I was overjoyed when I was picked by Seattle,” said Duran. “This organization does a great job with everything top down-from the ownership to everything that goes on there. I’m just overjoyed that I’m going there.”

With its second pick (34th overall) Seattle selected University of Alabama-Birmingham forward Babayele Sodade (pronounced Bah-bye-elle-EE Sho-Dahd-DAY). The 6-3, 195-pound forward scored 13 goals with five assists as a senior and was named to the All-Conference USA First Team. Sodade, 21, made 73 appearances with 29 goals and 11 assists in his four years at UAB. The native of Ontario, Canada was invited to the Canadian Olympic team camp in 2010.

“Sodade is a big presence up front, he’s got good pace,” said Schmid. “He showed well at the combine. He’s had a good career at UAB and he’s the kind of player who could be a surprise guy like [Sporting Kansas City forward] C.J. Sapong was last year.”

Andrew Wenger of Duke University was chosen No. 1 overall by the expansion Montreal Impact. Federal Way native Kelyn Rowe, a sophomore midfielder at UCLA, was taken with the No. 3 overall pick by New England. University of Washington midfielder Jacob Hustedt was selected by San Jose with the sixth pick of the second round.

The MLS Supplemental Draft, consisting of four rounds, will be held via teleconference on Tuesday. Preseason training begins January 19 at the Starfire Sports in Tukwila, Wash.

All SuperDraft selections are expected to report to Seattle for preseason training. Sounders FC will begin its fourth MLS season by hosting Toronto FC on March 17 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

Sounders FC 2012 MLS SuperDraft Selections
Andrew Duran
1st Round, 15th Pick, 15th Overall
Position: Defender
Height: 6-1
Weight: 160
Birthdate: 9/26/1989
Hometown (Citizenship): Mokena, Illinois (USA)
College: Creighton (2007-2011)
High School: Lincoln-Way East HS

Babayele Sodade
2nd Round, 15th Pick, 34th Overall
Position: Forward
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195
Birthdate: 7/26/1990
Hometown (Citizenship): Windsor, Ontario (Canada/USA)
College: University of Alabama-Birmingham (2008-2011)
High School: Holy Names HS
Pronunciation: Bah-bye-elle-EE Sho-Dahd-DAY

The five collegians drafted by Sounders FC in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft have all reported to Seattle training ahead of the official first training session.

We’re happy to introduce them to you.

[Show as slideshow]

• Michael Tetteh, a defender/midfielder from UC Santa Barbara who is originally from Ghana is a Generation Adidas member taken with the 20^th choice overall. He played three seasons at UCSB and earned second team Far West All-Region and second team All-Big West honors as a sophomore. Although his final season was plagued by injuries, he scored a career-high three goals. Tetteh finished his collegiate career having started 50 of 59 appearances and scored six goals with eight assists.
• With its second pick in the second round (21^st overall), Sounders FC selected Southern Methodist University defender Leone Cruz. He appeared in 67 games with nine goals and five assists, including a career-high three assists in his senior season.
• Servando Carrasco was selected with Seattle’s third pick in the second round (27^th overall). The University of California midfielder/forward earned All-Pac-10 first-team and NSCAA Far West Regional third-team honors as a senior. He was also a two-time All-Pac-10 second-team selection. Carrasco finished his collegiate career with 70 starts in 73 appearances and he scored a career-high seven goals with three assists in 2010.
• Bryan Meredith was chosen with the 29^th pick overall. The Monmouth University goalkeeper led the nation in goals against average (0.306) as a junior and also ranked third in the nation in save percentage (.889). As a junior, he earned NSCAA/adidas North Atlantic Region First Team accolades and was also named to the All-Northeast Conference Second Team.
• With its fifth and final selection Seattle took Alex Caskey, a midfielder from Davidson University. Caskey was a two-year captain who was named to the All-Southern Conference first team three consecutive years, and he did not miss a match in his four-year career, starting all 76 games.

All images thanks to Chris Coulter and SoundersPhotos.com.

Pick #11- Josh Ford- GK (Connecticut)

Pick #29- Corey Attaway- D (UC-Irvine)

In 2009, Attaway was an All-Big West honorable mention who started all 22 games for the Anteaters. He recorded three points with a goal and an assist.

ESPN describes Attaway as,”Hard-working, versatile midfielder deserved a combine invite, is going to play somewhere.”

Pick #47- Sean Morris- M (Seattle Univ.)

9:29a: Sounders FC announce a trade with the Portland Timbers. The Timbers get Seattle’s 1st Round Draft Pick as well as an International Roster Spot in exchange for Portland’s 2nd Round Pick (#20 overall) and Allocation Money [Understanding Allocation Money].

Seattle now picks at 20, 21, 27, and 29.

11:01a:
Round 2 (#20 Overall) Sounders select Michael Tetteh
Tallied 3 goals & 2 assists in 2010 in 15 matches. He can play Left Back or Left Midfield. He has signed a Generation Adidas contract with MLS.

Round 2 (#21 Overall) Sounders select Leone Cruz

He classifies himself as a Central Defender who models himself after Rafa Marquez

11:20a:
Round 2 (#27 Overall) Sounders select Servando Carrasco
He is considered a holding midfielder who would be a backup to Osvaldo Alonso.

11:29a:
Round 2 (#29 Overall) Sounders select Bryan Meredith
During his Junior year, Meredith led the nation in goals against average, allowing 0.306 goals per game.

>>In an interview with Steven Goff, MLS Commissioner, Don Garber noted that the league was looking to promote the intense Cascadia Rivalry between Sounders FC, Vancouver, and Portland by having a week-long round robin involving all three clubs; Sounders FC vs. Timbers, Timbers vs. Whitecaps, Whitecaps vs. Sounders FC (in some order)

Seattle’s Final Pick is the 11th Selection in the 3rd Round- #47 Overall.

12:45p
Round 3 (#47 Overall) Sounders select Alex Caskey

All Player Bios and Images care of MLS.

The team holds the following selections:
#11 (Rd1, Pick11)
#21 (Rd2, Pick3) which came from DC United in exchange for Stephen King
#27 (Rd2, Pick9) from Chicago for Freddie Ljungberg
#29 (Rd2, Pick11)
#47 (Rd3, Pick 11)

During this week’s combine in Florida, Head Coach Sigi Schmid offered up this quote:

We’re a team that has a team so we’re looking a little more position specific but we’re always looking for the best player available. So our situation, we pick 11th. Well, there are a number of guys, 3 or 4 guys. Now maybe this guy fits our positional needs better but he may be gone. So do we take the better soccer player or do we try to fit the second choice for our positional needs? So, my view in the draft has always been to try and get the best player you can get, irrespective of positional needs. Even though the first time you pick you certainly want to go with the guy with your positional needs IF you can get the guy you want.

So what do you think are the Sounders’ needs? Speed on the wings to replace Sanna Nyassi? Creative possession players in the Midfield? The future Goalkeeper?

The 2011 MLS SuperDraft is set for January 13th from Baltimore. We’ve watched exactly 4 college soccer games this past season; 1 in person, and 3 on TV so we’re not going to pretend that we can give an honest judgement about prospects on whom Sounders FC should select.

If you need a quick rundown on many of the participants in this year’s draft, check out Pro Player Pipeline.

We will give a run-down on whom others are tabbing to be “proper” choices for Sounders FC.

Currently, Seattle is the owner of the following selections-

• #11 (Rd1, Pick11)
• #21 (Rd2, Pick3) which came from DC United in exchange for Stephen King
• #27 (Rd2, Pick9)  from Chicago for Freddie Ljungberg
• #29 (Rd2, Pick11)
• #47 (Rd3, Pick 11)

Soccer By Ives (v1.0)- Anthony Ampaipitakwon [M, Akron]

“It’s no secret the Sounders lacked a bit of midfield creativity, and Seattle also lost Sanna Nyassi in the off-season. Ampaipitakwon can help ! address both those issues. He’s quick, tireless and very creative, just the type of spark the Sounders attack needs.”

WVHooligan (v1.0)- David Bingham [GK, California]

“Should Bingham come out, which I think he definitely will if MacMath passes on MLS, he could end up here. Seattle may have better needs at this point than a keeper but with Kasey Keller playing one more year it would be a good time to groom a young keeper like Bingham who is very talented.”

Seattle’s first Designated Player Freddie Ljungberg was traded to Chicago at the end of July for, “for a conditional selection in the 2011 or 2012 SuperDraft.”

Well, Josh Mayers at the Seattle Times got the run down on what Seattle can get in return. And it all depends on if the Chicago Fire sign Ljungberg and when.

• If Chicago re-signs Ljungberg before the 2011 SuperDraft on January 13th, Seattle gets Chicago’s #9 pick in the 2011 Superdraft
• If Chicago does not re-sign the Swede at all, Sounders FC gets Chicago’s 2nd round pick in the 2011 SuperDraft (#27 overall).
• If the Fire sign Ljungberg after the 2011 SuperDraft, Seattle get the #27 pick in 2011 AND The Sounders get Chicago’s 1st Round Pick in 2012 (but Seattle gives up the 2nd Round pick in 2012).

Got it? What do you think? What are you hoping for?

The Sounders have declined to pick up Tyrone Marshall’s contract option and is the only member of the Rave Green who can be selected.

Read the List of Available Players in the Re-Entry Draft

Read the Re-Entry Process and Draft Order

It’s a day to welcome the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Portland Timbers to MLS as they begin to fill out their rosters for the 2011 MLS Season. It’s also a day to say goodbye to Sanna Nyassi and Nate Sturgis who were both selected by the Whitecaps in the Expansion Draft.

Nyassi, selected second overall, was the 3rd member of Sounders FC when he signed in September of 2008. The Gambian saw action in 36 matches in 2010 for Sounders FC across all competitions where he tallied 4 goals and 4 assists.

Sturgis came to Seattle in the Sounders’ Expansion Draft two years ago. The 23-year-old found a consistent spot in the starting lineup after the departure of Freddie Ljungberg in the middle of July- a coincidental timing of Seattle’s turnaround. Nate recorded 1 goal and two assists for Sounders FC in 2010.

On the Expansion Picks by the Whitecaps, Head Coach Sigi Schmid noted, “We are disappointed to lose them both to Vancouver and we want to thank them for their contributions to Sounders FC.”

Thanks to Chris Coulter of SoundersPhotos.com for the images.

• Osvaldo Alonso
• Brad Evans
• Alvaro Fernandez
• Mike Fucito
• Jhon Kennedy Hurtado
• Nate Jaqua
• asey Keller
• Fredy Montero
• Jeff Parke
• James Riley
• Steve Zakuani

Yamsmos‘ Comment… “ The only one I am REALLY surpprised about is Ianni. He is young, he played really well this year, and he is GREAT cover. Bye bye Patrick to Portland, and bye bye Nkufo to Vancouver.”

Those left unprotected…

• Julien Baudet
• Terry Boss
• Danny Earls
• David Estrada
• Leo Gonzalez
• Taylor Graham
• Patrick Ianni
• Roger Levesque
• Tyrone Marshall
• Miguel Montaño
• Blaise Nkufo
• Pat Noonan
• Sanna Nyassi
• Zach Scott
• Michael Seamon
• Nathan Sturgis
• Tyson Wahl

Expansion Draft Rules (as provided by MLS Communications Department):
· MLS Clubs may protect 11 players between their Senior and their Developmental Roster. If the Player’s contract expires at the end of 2010, he will still be considered part of the Club’s Senior Roster.

· If a Club protects a player, it is not obligated to exercise the player’s option. It may renegotiate a new budget number for the player as in previous years.

· If a player retires, he will not be a part of the Senior Roster, but his Club will lose its right of first refusal to him should he ultimately decide to play.

· Players on a Club’s Developmental Roster, other than Generation adidas players who have not been graduated at the end of the 2010 MLS Season or Home Grown Players on a Club’s developmental roster, will be part of the expansion draft.

· Generation adidas players who have not been graduated at the end of the 2010 MLS Season and Home Grown Players on a Club’s developmental roster at the end of the 2010 MLS Season are automatically protected (Clubs do not have to use a protected slot on them).

· If Vancouver/Portland select a Developmental Player, it must offer him a Senior Roster position and he must be on the Senior Roster as of Roster Compliance Date.

· Clubs are restricted in the number of international player(s) that they may make available. Clubs may make available a number of international players equal to their total number of international players minus three, provided that if a Club has three or fewer international players it may make available not more than one.

· For purposes of this expansion process,

For US-based Clubs — any non-domestic US player (players that do not hold U.S. Citizenship or Residency) will count as an International

For Toronto FC — any non-domestic US player or non-domestic Canadian players (players that do not hold Canadian OR U.S. Citizenship or Residency) will count as an International.

· Designated players are NOT automatically protected (i.e., Clubs must choose whether to protect such players and if such player is not protected, he will be available for selection in the Expansion Draft). However, if the Designated Player has a no-trade clause in his contract, then his MLS club must protect him and he will count as one of the 11 players who may be protected.

· Maximum Player Loss: Once two (2) players have been claimed from a Club’s non-protected roster, that Club is eliminated from the expansion draft and may not lose any further players. In addition, once a player has been claimed from a Club’s non-protected roster, that Club may move a player from its non-protected roster to its protected roster.

· Right to Negotiate: Vancouver and Portland will have the right to renegotiate a drafted player’s salary (either up or down) without having to place such player on waivers or giving his previous Club a right of first refusal.

· Priority: On the first day of the Discovery/Allocation Period, each of Vancouver and Portland will have priority over players on its USL roster and one additional player in the USL not on its roster, subject to another MLS Club’s right of first refusal.

· Rounds: The expansion draft will be 10 rounds.