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FC Dallas

Burn Lands 2002 Rookie of the Year Finalist Brad Davis in Draft Day Deal

January 17, 2003 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


KANSAS CITY - Through a variety of draft day deals and trades, the Dallas Burn acquired an MLS Rookie of the Year finalist while adding depth to both the forward and backline in today's MLS SuperDraft held at the Kansas City Convention Center. The Burn entered the day with three of the first 15 picks in the draft, including the #4 overall selection. Dallas traded their first round pick (#4 overall) to the MetroStars for 2002 MLS Rookie of the Year finalist and United States U-23 midfielder Brad Davis. Davis, the third overall selection in last year's draft, played in 24 matches for the Metros last year, starting 12 while scoring four goals and adding three assists for 11 points.

"We're very excited to be able to add a player of the caliber of Brad," said Burn Head Coach Mike Jeffries. "He adds an additional attacking dimension to the team. Brad's got experience in the league as well as at the youth national team level and is one of the premier young players in this country."

Dallas then executed anther trade, obtaining the Los Angeles Galaxy's first round pick (#10 overall) for the Burn's first pick in the second round (#12 overall) and their sixth round selection (#55 overall).

With the tenth overall pick, the Burn selected University of Connecticut defender Shavar Thomas. Thomas, a native of Kingston, Jamaica, will not count as a full international as he will have Transitional International status for the next three years. Thomas played two years at UConn and was a teammate of current Burn defender Chris Gbandi during his freshman season in 2001. He played in 36 games with the Huskies, scoring three goals. In addition to his collegiate career, Thomas has represented the Jamaican National Team on numerous occasions, including World Cup 2002 qualifiers.

"Shavar is a player that despite his young age will solidify our back line," said Jeffries. "He has international experience, has very good composure on the ball and we felt that he was the most solid defender in the draft."

"I really didn't know where I was going to go in the draft, so it was great to be selected in the first round," said Shavar. "I'm grateful for the opportunity that the Burn has given me and I look forward to make an impact right away. I look forward to teaming up with Chris (Gbandi) again. He's a great guy and we made a pretty good duo at UConn."

With their second round selection (15th overall), the Burn selected midfielder Jason Thompson. Thompson, from Garland, TX, is currently a member of the U-23 National Team and will be classified as a Project-40 player for the Burn. Thompson played collegiately at Eastern Illinois University where he finished his three-year career with 40 goals and 16 assists for 96 points. As a freshman in 2000, led the nation in goals with 21 and was named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year and Soccer America Freshman All-American.

With the first selection in the third round (21st overall), Dallas selected University of Virginia goalkeeper David Comfort. Comfort played in 60 games in his four-year career at UVA, compiling a goals-against average of 0.98, which ranks seventh all-time in school history.

With two picks in the fourth round (34th and 35th), the Burn used the 34th overall selection on highly touted Creighton University forward Mike Tranchilla. They then traded their 35th overall selection to the Chicago Fire for the Fire's natural third round pick in the 2004 draft. In the 5th round (45th overall), Dallas selected midfielder Michael Mariscalco from Butler University. Dallas closed out the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by selecting forward Andy Rosenband from Ohio State.

BRAD DAVIS
Position: Midfielder
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 165
Born: 11-8-81 in St. Charles, MO
College: St Louis University
Acquired: From the MetroStars in exchange for the Burn's first round selection (#4 overall)

The third overall selection in the 2002 SuperDraft by the MetroStars...was one of three finalists for MLS Rookie of the Year honors...played in 24 matches in 2002, starting 12 and scoring four goals while adding three assists for 11 points...a current member of the United States U-23 National Team...has also played with the U-18 and U-20 national teams...played two years at St. Louis University, scoring 21 goals and adding 20 assists for 62 points...was named an NSCAA Second-Team All-American in 2001 after tallying 10 goals and 14 assists for 34 points at St. Louis...led the team in assists and finished second in scoring...was named to Soccer America's All Freshman team in 2000....scored 11 goals and added six assists in 19 matches for 28 points...first-year totals were one point off the school's freshman record set by Columbus Crew forward Brian McBride.

SHAVAR THOMAS
Position: Defender
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 195
Born: 1-29-81 in Kingston, Jamaica
College: University of Connecticut
Acquired: Selected in the first round (10th overall)

At Connecticut: Originally committed to UConn in fall of 2000 but returned to Jamaica to play for the national team...started and played in a possible 36 games. As a Sophomore: A central back ... averaged 87-minutes of playing time, having started and played in all 23 games...scored first career goal against Syracuse, added another vs. Penn...had an assist on game-winner against Rutgers in BIG EAST Quarters and game-tying in BE semis...notched third PK in BE semis...named to the All-BIG EAST First Team, NSCAA/adidas All-America Second Team and NSCAA/adidas All-New England First Team...helped hold opponents to 9.8 shots per game and 0.95 goals per game...As a Freshman: Played and started in 13 games...missed first eight games of the season...also missed Virginia Tech game to play in World Cup qualifier for Jamaica...voted to the All-BIG EAST Third Team... helped keep opponents to an average 1.0 goals per game...named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week (10/29) and to the Soccer America Team of the Week (10/28). In High School: Attended Hotchkiss Prep School in Lakeville, CT...named the 1999 Connecticut Player of the Year and the Connecticut Youth Club Player of the Year... also earned High School All-America honors...also ran track for three years. National Team: A member of the Jamaican Olympic National Team...represented Jamaica in Pan-American Games in Vancouver in 1999.

JASON THOMPSON
Position: Forward
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 185
Born: 11-22-81 in Garland, TX
College: Eastern Illinois University (Project 40)
Acquired: Selected in the second round (15th overall).

Spent part of summer 2002 playing for the United States U-23 team on its tour of England... scored two goals, tying him for the team lead during a four-game exhibition schedule...2001: Honorable Mention All-Missouri Valley...started in 15 games, sitting out one due to a red card...scored 14 goals and added four assists for 32 points...during the summer before started playing for the U.S. National Amateur Team and has been since...2000: National goal scoring leader and runner-up in points...Second Team All-American by College Soccer Online... Soccer America Freshman All-American...Second Team All-Midwest Region...unanimous pick as Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year...Second Team All-MVC... MVC Offensive Player of the Week (October 9)...tied Eastern record for goals scored in a season...tied for second among Valley single season leaders for goals and points...scored the most goals and points in a game than any other player nationally (6 goals, 12 points at Belmont)...HIGH SCHOOL: Played for South Garland High School...lettered four years in soccer and three in football...four-time all-district, all-area and all-state... member of the 2000 state club champions Texas Longhorns.

DAVID COMFORT
Position: Goalkeeper
Ht: 6-5 Wt: 200
Born: July 27, 1981
College: Univ. of Virginia
Acquired: Selected in the third round (21st overall)

Second all-time at UVa for most minutes as keeper (5442), second all-time for most games played as keeper (60)...in 2002, recorded a team-high 64 saves and three solo shutouts and had a goals against average of 1.00...in 2001, named Second Team All-State by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID)...a four-year member of the Virginia state ODP team.

MIKE TRANCHILLA
Position: Forward
Ht: 5-10 Wt: 165
Born: June 9, 1981
College: Creighton University
Acquired: Selected in the fourth round (34th overall)

Finished his career as the Missouri Valley Conference all-time leading goal-scorer with 55 and point-scorer with 140...ranks second in school history with 55 goals and 140 points, fifth at CU with 30 career assists...his 86 career matches are topped by just Joe Wieland and Brian Mullan...had 11 career multiple goal matches...school's all-time leader with 17 points in NCAA tournament matches (6 goals, 5 assts.)...a two-time finalist for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy...First-Team NSCAA All-American as a senior.

MICHAEL MARISCALCO
Position: Midfielder
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 170
Born: August 27, 1980
College: Butler University
Acquired: Selected in the 5th round (45th overall)

2002 & 2001 first team All-Horizon League and Horizon League All-Tournament team...named to the 2002 second team All-Great Lakes Region...started every match in Butler career...Butler's all-time leader in assists, fourth for points and fifth on the all-time list for goals.

ANDY ROSENBAND
Position: Forward
Ht: 5-7 Wt: 160
Born: April 16, 1980
College: Ohio State
Acquired: Selected in the sixth round (52nd overall)

2002 second team All-Big Ten selection, NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region second team and first team All-Ohio selection...led the team in points (14), shots (36) and shots on goal (19) in his first season after transferring from Wake Forest...2001 recorded three assists for three points, including an assist in the Big Ten tournament...Colorado Rush/Riverside Renegades/ODP Participated in the ODP at the regional level and helped Colorado Rush win the U-20 National Championship in 2000.

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