Orlando City Sc Selects Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts No. 1 Overall
December 10, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - Orlando City SC today selected Portland Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft.
Ricketts, 37, appeared in 73 matches (all starts) for the Timbers after joining the club midway through the 2012 season in a trade with the Montreal Impact. A longtime Jamaican international, Ricketts made an MLS-career-high 105 saves in 32 matches for Portland in 2014, compiling a 12-7-12 record with seven shutouts and a 1.38 goals-against average. In six MLS seasons, Ricketts has made 167 appearances, logging 53 shutouts while being named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year twice (2010, 2013).
"Donovan has been a top goalkeeper and a first-class professional on and off the field during his time in Portland and we wish him all the best in the future with Orlando City; he will be missed," said Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson. "We entered the offseason with a sound strategy and have remained committed to it with our signings and Expansion Draft planning."
Both New York City FC and Orlando City SC participated in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft, each selecting 10 players to help build their respective rosters ahead of the 2015 MLS season. All other MLS teams were allowed to protect 11 players from selection. Additionally, players still under the Generation adidas designation and Homegrown players on a team's Supplemental Roster at the end of the season were protected, leaving all other players unprotected and available for selection. No team could lose more than two players, and after losing a player, the club was allowed to protect a 12th, and final, player.
"I've truly enjoyed working with Donovan and appreciate everything he's invested in our club," said Timbers head coach Caleb Porter. "The offseason continues to go as planned and it's a huge positive we will maintain a very strong core and with our depth intact. This allows us to enter the season with continuity and keep building towards a successful 2015."
No other Timbers players were selected in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft.
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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
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- 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
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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