Cougars go all California in college draft
March 8, 2007 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
California Cougars News Release
(Stockton, Calif., March 8, 2007) - The California Cougars announced today the team selected midfielder Matt Fitzgerald from Saint Mary's College in as its first overall pick in the 2007 MISL College draft.
A California native, Fitzgerald earned four-straight All-WCC accolades, including three first-team selections in his four-year career. Fitzgerald was a Third-Team All-West Region selection in 2005 and was also named the WCC Freshman of the Year in 2003. The midfielder finished his senior season with a team-high 11 points on four goals and three assists. Fitzgerald ranks third all-time at Saint Mary's in assists with 17 and fifth in points with 41 and seventh in goals with 12. The Castro Valley native played in 77 career games which ranks 4th all-time at SMC.
"Matt will be a great addition to the club for next season," said Cougars head coach Bernie Lilavois. "He's participating in the 'A' League with the California Victory so his transition between seasons fits great for us."
The team also selected Dixon, Calif. native Pedro Lupercio from California State University Sacramento. Lupercio, a senior midfielder, he leaves Sacramento State as one of its most dangerous offensive players in recent history, playing in 69 matches (52 starts) his 10 career assists rank fifth in Div. I program history.
Finishing off the first round for the Cougars, California selected Raul Bautista, a midfielder from San Diego State University. Bautista started all 16 games he appeared in 2006 and tied for fifth on the squad with six points on two goals and two assists. Bautista, who earned the team's "Man of the Match" honors a team-high five times last season, was named Pac-10 Player of the Week on October 3, 2006.
Pick University Player Position Home Town
1 (Territorial, 3rd Overall) St. Mary's College Matt Fitzgerald F/MF Castro Valley, Calif.
2 (Round 1, 11th Overall) California State University Sacramento Pedro Lupercio MF/F Dixon, Calif.
3 (Round 1, 12th Overall) San Diego State University Raul Bautista M Salida, Calif.
4 (Round 2, 19th Overall) San Jose State University Diego Soto MF King City, Calif.
5 (Round 3, 27th Overall) University of San Francisco Kevin Long D Irvine, Calif.
6 (Round 4, 35th Overall) University of California, Berkley Mike Oseguera GK Huntington Beach, Calif.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 8, 2007
- Ignition selects six during MISL College Draft - Detroit Ignition
- Storm Gets Three in Amateur Draft - Chicago Storm
- Blast selects five players in MISL Amateur Draft - Baltimore Blast
- KiXX select five in 2007 MISL College Draft - Philadelphia KiXX
- Cougars go all California in college draft - California Cougars
- UW-Milwaukee product Mallace leads Wave draft - Milwaukee Wave
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