Sports stats



MLS FC Dallas

Burn Selects Midfielder Ramon Nunez With First Pick In 2004 MLS SuperDraft

January 16, 2004 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – The Dallas Burn selected local product Ramon Nunez with their first selection in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft today in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Burn entered the draft with the fourth and six overall selections. Prior to making their first selection, the Burn traded the fourth overall pick to Kansas City along with defender Shavar Thomas and a conditional second round pick in the 2005 draft. In return, the Burn received Kansas City's seventh overall selection as well as midfielder Eric Quill and defender Carey Talley.

Nunez, 18, just completed his freshman year at SMU, leading the team in scoring with 18 points and was named the 2003 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year. Nunez, who will count as a junior international, was also a member of the Dallas Texans soccer club.

With the seventh overall selection, the Burn drafted defender Clarence Goodson from Maryland. Goodson, 21, has been an integral part of Maryland's defense and has led the team to the NCAA Final Four the last two years. Goodson was named All-ACC Second Team in 2003 and was named to the ACC All-Tournament Team after scoring two goals and adding one assist in the 2003 tournament.

With the 29th overall selection, Dallas drafted 2003 All-Pac 10 midfielder Ty Maurin from UCLA. In the fourth round, the Burn selected 2003 Hermann Trophy semfinalist David Wagenfuhr, a defender from Creigton University.

With their final selection of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, the Burn selected defender Edwin Miranda from Cal State Northridge, the 2003 Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

BURN HEAD COACH COLIN CLARKE:

On the two first-round picks:

"We got two very good young players in the first round. With Ramon, we've seen him quite a bit in training with us so we know what we've got in him. He's an extremely gifted player and we're looking for good things from him. We've seen Clarence play quite a bit over the years. He started out up front and then moved to the back and he's really proven to be a tough, hard-nosed defender that is really good in the air.

On the trade with Kansas City:

"That trade enabled us to get two good starters. Both Talley and Quill are proven players in this league and they both had good seasons last year. And we were still able to get who we wanted after making the trade.

MIDFIELDER RAMON NUNEZ

"I'm excited that I'm going to be able to stay home and play with the Burn. I felt that this was a great opportunity for me to come out now and I'm just going to come in and work as hard as I can. I've trained with the Burn guys a lot so I'm real familiar with them and feel as if I've got a bit of a head start."

DEFENDER CLARENCE GOODSON

"It's a wonderful feeling to be joining the Burn. They've got a new coach and some new players so it's a great situation for me. I'm looking forward to this opportunity and am looking to make the most of it."

RAMON NUNEZ

Position: Midfielder

Ht: 5-5 Wt: 145

Born: 11-14-85 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras

College: SMU

Acquired: Selected in the first round (6th overall)

As a freshman in 2003, was selected to the NSCAA All-Midwest Regional first team and was named 2003 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year...led the Mustangs in points (18) and assists (10)...also scored four goals on the year...was selected as the nation's top recruit by Soccer America in 2002...was selected to the 2002 and 2003 Parade All-America first team and was a two-time NSCAA All-America selection...a member of the Dallas Texans soccer club, winning regionals the last three years and the Nike Cup in Atlanta in 1999...attended WT White High School in Dallas.

CLARENCE GOODSON

Position: Defender

Ht: 6-4 Wt: 165

Born: 11-17-82 in Alexandria, Virginia

College: Maryland

Acquired: Selected in the first round (7th overall)

2003: An integral part of Maryland's defense as a center back...earned All-ACC Second Team honors while helping the Terps to 12 shutouts...named to ACC All-Tournament Team after scoring two goals and adding one assist in the tournament...2002: Started 24 of 25 games on the season and helped pace the Terp offense with three goals and four assists for ten points...notched three goals in the ACC Tournament...2000: Started 11 of 19 games and finished his freshman campaign as the team's second-leading scorer with 13 points.

CAREY TALLY

Position: Defender

Ht: 6-2 Wt: 180

Born: 8-26-76 in Cordova, Tennessee

College: North Carolina Acquired: From Kansas City along with Eric Quill and Kansas City's seventh overall selection in the 2004 draft for Shavar Thomas, the Burn's fourth overall selection in the 2004 draft and a conditional second round pick in the 2005 draft.

Played with DC United from 1998-2001 before joining the Wizards for the 2002 and 2003 seasons...has appeared in 153 total MLS matches, scoring 12 goals and adding 12 assists for 36 career points...was a starter in MLS Cup '99, which was won by United, 2-0.

ERIC QUILL

Position: Midfielder

Ht: 5-10 Wt: 170

Born: 2-18-78 in Missouri City, Texas

College: Clemson Acquired: From Kansas City along with Carey Talley and Kansas City's seventh overall selection in the 2004 draft for Shavar Thomas, the Burn's fourth overall selection in the 2004 draft and a conditional second round pick in the 2005 draft.

Played with the Tampa Bay Mutiny from 1997-2001...has spent the last two years with Kansas City...in his seven years in the league, has scored 11 goals and added 28 assists for 50 career points.

TY MAURIN

Position: Midfielder

Ht: 5-9 Wt: 165

Born: 8-16-82 in La Mirada, California

College: UCLA Acquired: Selected in the 3rd round (29th overall)

In four years at UCLA, played in 66 career games...Second Team All-Pac 10 in 2003 after earning honorable mention honors in 2002....registered one goal and three assists in 2003.

DAVID WAGENFUHR

Position: Midfielder

Ht: 5-9 Wt: 160

Born: 6-22-82 in Colorado Springs, Colorado

College: Creighton Acquired: Selected in the 4th round (31st overall)

A 2003 Hermann Trophy semifinalist in his senior year...started all 22 matches for the Bluejays...named First Team All-MVC from 2001-2003...was also named to the MVC All-Newcomer Team as a freshman in 2000.

EDWIN MIRANDA

Position: Defender

Ht: 6-0 Wt: 170

Born: 1-28-91 in El Salvador

College: Cal State Northridge Acquired: Selected in the 6th round (64th overall)

Earned Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference First Team honors both his junior and senior years...tied for second on the team in points his senior year with 17 points and assists with seven.

Check out the FC Dallas Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...

Major League Soccer Stories from January 16, 2004


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.

OurSports Central