Sports stats



Chivas USA Selects Midfielder Blair Gavin In First Round Of 2010 MLS SuperDraft

January 14, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010) - Chivas USA of Major League Soccer used the 10th overall pick of Thursday's 2010 MLS SuperDraft held in Philadelphia, Pa. to select Blair Gavin, a midfielder out of the University of Akron. With picks in the later rounds, the Red-and-White also selected defender Kevin Tangney, midfielders Ben Zemanski and Chris Ross, and forward Isaac Kissi.

"We're very happy with Blair, who is an excellent ball-winner, has great vision, and reads the game very well," said Chivas USA Head Coach Martín Vásquez. "Later in the draft, we were able to get some depth with a center back, another holding midfielder, an attacking midfielder and a forward. We got some players that we're excited about, and we'll give them the opportunity to come into preseason and show that they can play at this level and they can help us."

Gavin, 21, recently finished his junior season at the University of Akron, where he scored five goals and added three assists from his defensive midfield position, helping the team to a 23-1-1 record and a spot in the National Championship match. A native of Louisville, Ky., Gavin has experience with the United States U-18 and U-20 National Teams, and as a Generation Adidas player, does not count against the salary cap for the Red-and-White.

"I'm very excited to be [at Chivas USA] and start my career," said Gavin after being drafted. "As a team, we all want to win championships, and that's what I'm going to try to help bring to this club."

With its second pick in the draft (35th overall), Chivas USA selected Kevin Tangney, a defender from the University of Maryland. An imposing central defender, Tangney helped Maryland to nine shutouts in 2009, and added three goals and an assist at the other end of the field. Later in the third round (42nd overall), the Red-and-White selected Isaac Kissi, a forward out of the University of Dayton. In three seasons at Dayton, the native of Ghana had 15 goals and six assists.

The final two picks for the Red-and-White were used on midfielders Ben Zemanski and Chris Ross. Zemanski was a teammate of Gavin's at the University of Akron, where in four years he played 86 games, starting all 23 games as a junior and 25 as a senior. Ross, an attacking midfielder who played four years at Colgate University in New York, finished his collegiate career with eight goals and nine assists, and earned numerous league and regional honors in his junior and senior seasons.

All five players will join Chivas USA for preseason, which opens on Monday, January 25 in Carson, Calif. More information on all of Chivas USA's picks from the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, including audio from Head Coach Martín Vásquez and several draftees, is available at Chivas USA's official blog at dentrodelrebano.com. Season seats for the Red-and-White's sixth campaign in MLS are now on sale; for more information, or to purchase tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.

CHIVAS USA 2010 MLS SUPERDRAFT SELECTIONS

10th overall pick (First Round) Blair Gavin, midfielder, University of Akron

35th overall pick (Third Round) Kevin Tangney, defender, University of Maryland

42nd overall pick (Third Round) Isaac Kissi, forward, University of Dayton

47th overall pick (Third Round) Ben Zemanski, midfielder, University of Akron

58th overall pick (Fourth Round) Chris Ross, midfielder, Colgate University



Major League Soccer Stories from January 14, 2010


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