MLS Veterans and Promising Talents Make up the 20 Players Chosen in the 2014 Expansion Draft
December 10, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK (Wed., Dec. 10, 2014) - New York City FC and Orlando City SC took big steps towards bolstering their rosters ahead of their 2015 league debuts as each team added ten players in today's MLS Expansion Draft. Orlando was awarded the first pick and selected 2013 Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Donovan Ricketts from the Portland Timbers. With the second pick, New York City chose veteran midfielder Ned Grabavoy of Real Salt Lake.
Both Orlando City and New York City rounded out their selections with a cross-section of experienced players and young, exciting talents. Fans in Central Florida will welcome back a familiar face as veteran midfielder Lewis Neal will rejoin his old club having been drafted from D.C. United in the fifth round. MLS Cup 2014 runners-up the New England Revolution had two forwards from their roster drafted - Patrick Mullins and Tony Taylor - both of who will now head to New York City. Mullins, a first-round draft pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, played a part in last weekend's MLS Cup final providing the assist on the Revolution's lone goal in a 2-1 loss to the LA Galaxy.
Prior to the Expansion Draft, each current MLS club had the opportunity to protect 11 players from their 2014 roster. Generation adidas players (who did not graduate at the end of the 2014 season) and Homegrown Players on a club's supplemental roster were automatically protected, as well as Designated Players with no-trade clauses in their contract.
Complete list of players chosen in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft
Round Orlando City SC New York City FC
1 Donovan Ricketts (POR) Ned Grabavoy (RSL)
2 Tony Cascio (COL) Patrick Mullins (NE)
3 Jalil Anibaba (SEA) Jason Hernandez (SJ)
4 Pedro Ribeiro (PHI) Daniel Lovitz (TOR)
5 Lewis Neal (DC) Tony Taylor (NE)
6 Jairo Arrieta (CLB) Mehdi Ballouchy (VAN)
7 Heath Pearce (MTL) George John (DAL)
8 Danny Mwanga (COL) Thomas McNamara (DC)
9 Mark Sherrod (HOU) Sal Zizzo (SKC)
10 Eric Gehrig (CLB) Chris Wingert (RSL)
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Major League Soccer Stories from December 10, 2014
- Bobby Burling Joins Colorado Rapids Via MLS Waiver Draft - Colorado Rapids
- Earthquakes Select Leandro Barrera in Waiver Draft - San Jose Earthquakes
- Mansaray Called into U-18 U.S. National Team Camp in Spain - Seattle Sounders FC
- Chicago Fire Acquire Right of First Refusal for Defender Eric Gehrig - Chicago Fire FC
- Timbers Academy Midfielder Adrian Villegas Named to U.S. Under-15 National Team Training Camp Roster - Portland Timbers
- Orlando City Trades Eric Gehrig to Chicago Fire for 2016 MLS SuperDraft Pick - Orlando City SC
- Real Salt Lake Brings Jamison Olave Back from the New York Red Bulls - Real Salt Lake
- Orlando City Sc Selects Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts No. 1 Overall - Portland Timbers
- New York Red Bulls Trade Defender Jamison Olave to Real Salt Lake - New York Red Bulls
- Lovitz Re-Acquired from New York City FC - Toronto FC
- Houston Dynamo Forward Mark Sherrod Selected by Orlando City SC in MLS Expansion Draft - Houston Dynamo FC
- Record-Setting Postseason Caps off 2014 MLS Campaign - MLS
- Swanson Called-Up for U.S. U-18 MNT Camp in Spain - Columbus Crew SC
- Impact Selects Nigel Reo-Coker in MLS Waiver Draft - Club de Foot Montreal
- Revolution Lose Two Players in MLS Expansion Draft - New England Revolution
- Chicago Fire Academy Players Named to United States Under-18 Men's National Team Training Camp Roste - Chicago Fire FC
- Two Crew SC Players Selected by Orlando City SC in the 2015 MLS Expansion Draft - Columbus Crew SC
- MLS Veterans and Promising Talents Make up the 20 Players Chosen in the 2014 Expansion Draft - MLS
- Michael Harrington 'Excited About the Fresh Start' with Colorado Rapids - Colorado Rapids
- Cascio and Mwanga Head to Orlando City SC - Colorado Rapids
- The 'Who, What, Where and How?' of the Various MLS Drafts - Colorado Rapids
- Pedro Ribeiro Selected by Orlando City SC in Expansion Draft - Philadelphia Union
- StubHub Center to Host U.S. Men's National Team match against Panama February 8 - LA Galaxy
- MLS Cup 2014 delivers second-highest viewership for league championship in MLS history - New England Revolution
- Orlando City Strengthens Roster Through MLS Expansion Draft - Orlando City SC
- Forward Rob Friend Retires from Professional Soccer - LA Galaxy
- LA Galaxy Begin Postseason Tour in Peru and Ecuador - LA Galaxy
- Béland-Goyette, Gagnon-Laparé and Joly Invited to Canada U20 Camp - Club de Foot Montreal
- Revolution Academy Teams Update: December 10, 2014 - New England Revolution
- Earthquakes Sign GK David Bingham to New Contract - San Jose Earthquakes
- Follow the 2015 Expansion Draft Live from 12pm MT - Colorado Rapids
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