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Columbus Crew SC

Crew Selects Four in MLS Supplemental Draft

January 17, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS - The Columbus Crew added four players to its roster Tuesday via the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft. North Carolina midfielder Kirk Urso was selected in the first round (No. 10 overall), Washington defender Jamie Finch in the second (No. 29), Liberty forward Darren Amoo in the third (No. 48) and Maryland-Baltimore County midfielder/forward Andre Bulls in the fourth (No. 67).

A 2011 NSCAA All-South Region First Team selection, Urso joins college teammate Ben Speas from UNC where he started 80 of the 91 matches in which he appeared, tallying 15 goals and 24 assists. He started the Tar Heels' 2011 NCAA Men's College Cup final victory over UNC-Charlotte and was named to the All-Tournament Team. During his college career, Urso took a semester off to train with Bolton Wanderers of the English Premier League and Borussia Dortmund of the German Bundesliga. He is a native of Lombard, Ill., who played for the United States in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2007.

"Urso is a very physical player who is a good passer and has a winning mentality," said Crew head coach Robert Warzycha. "He played in the College Cup each of his four years in school and won the championship this year. He's a good midfielder who can provide a lot of stability in the middle of the field."

A native of Bellevue, Wash., Finch appeared in 70 matches for the Huskies, scoring one goal and recording 11 assists. He was four-time First-Team Pac-10/12 All-Academic honoree as well as a 2011 All-PAC-12 First Team. In his senior year, he recorded a career-high five assists.

"Finch is a left back who passes the ball well," Warzycha said. "He was not at the (MLS) Combine, but we scouted him at the University of Washington and I think he will provide some depth on the left side for us."

A prolific scorer and native of Accra, Ghana, Amoo appeared in 58 matches and became the Flames all-time leading goal scorer, with 37, while adding nine assists. He led the team in scoring in 2009 and 2010 and tied for first in 2011, earning him All-Big South First Team honors for three consecutive years.

"Amoo is a proven goal scorer," Warzycha said. "He's always busy up front, opportunistic around the goal and is a finisher. He didn't play for a big college, but comes from a school that has produced some good players."

Bulls is a versatile player from Baltimore, Md. He appeared in 75 matches at UMBC, tallying 33 goals and is the school's all-time assists leader, with 30. In 2010 he was third in the nation in assists, with 15, setting an all-time record in the America East Conference. Bulls is also a two-time All-America East First Team honoree (2009, 2010).

"Bulls can play as a forward or on the right side in the midfield," Warzycha said. "If you look at his record, he has gotten a lot of assists and has produced on the right side. He's very fast and provides great assistance to the forwards."

Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members, it won its first MLS Cup championship in 2008 and has also won the 2002 U.S. Open Cup and MLS Supporters' Shield titles in 2004, 2008 and 2009. It will open its 17th season on March 10 at the Colorado Rapids and its 14th at first-of-its-kind Crew Stadium on March 24 against the Montreal Impact.

Kirk Urso

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-11

Weight: 175

Born: March 6, 1990

Hometown: Lombard, Ill.

Citizenship: United States

2011 Team: North Carolina (NCAA)

How Acquired: Selected in the first round (No. 10 overall) of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft on Jan. 17

Jamie Finch

Position: Defender

Height: 5-9

Born: Feb. 26, 1989

Hometown: Bothell, Wash.

Citizenship: United States

2011 Team: Washington (NCAA)

How Acquired: Selected in the second round (No. 29 overall) of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft on Jan. 17

Darren Amoo

Position: Forward

Height: 5-10

Weight: 165

Born: June 2, 1990

Hometown: Accra, Ghana

Citizenship: Ghana

2011 Team: Liberty (NCAA)

How Acquired: Selected in the third round (No. 48 overall) of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft on Jan. 17

Andrew Bulls

Position: Midfielder/Forward

Height: 5-10

Weight: 170

Born: Oct. 9, 1989

Hometown: Baltimore, Md.

Citizenship: United States

2011 Team: Maryland-Baltimore County (NCAA)

How Acquired: Selected in the fourth round (No. 67 overall) of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft on Jan. 17

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