MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes Select Wake Forest All-American Defender Ike Opara With Third Overall Pick In MLS SuperD

January 14, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has selected Generation adidas and Wake Forest All-American defender Ike Opara, who led Wake Forest to the College Cup in 2009, with the third overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.

"We have had our eye on Ike for a long time and we are excited that he was available at the number three pick today," said general manager of soccer operations John Doyle. "He is a very athletic player with great size and strength. He has also played at a winning program the past three seasons and has experience at the international level."

Opara played eight matches for the United States U-20 team in 2009 and was a key member of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup team. He started all three games for the U.S. in Egypt last fall.

The Durham, N.C. native helped lead the Demon Deacons to the College Cup last season as junior before falling in overtime to eventual champion Virginia. He appeared in 17 games, scoring three goals and notching two assists. The 20-year-old defender earned All-American honors from the NSCAA, Soccer America, College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer and was named a semifinalist for the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy, which is given to college soccer's best player. He was also selected as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season and earned All-ACC first team accolades.

"We got the top defender in the draft today," said head coach Frank Yallop. "He had an outstanding combine over the weekend and we have seen him play a number of times over the past couple of years. He is an excellent defender, who has a great combination of athleticism, speed and power."

As a sophomore, he was named a finalist for the Soccer News Net College Player of the Year and was selected as a First Team All-American by Top Drawer Soccer and College Soccer News. He also earned NSCAA and Soccer America Second Team All-American honors, while earning a spot on the All-ACC First Team. In his freshman year, he was named to Soccer America's First Team and the All-Freshman squad and was selected to the All-ACC Freshman Team.

"I am happy to be selected by San Jose," said Opara. "First and foremost I'm going to bring a good attitude to the team. I look forward to hopefully building a special franchise and helping this team get to the MLS Cup sometime in the near future."

The 6'2" defender played in 65 games in his three year career with Wake Forest, scoring eight goals. Opara helped the team to the regular season ACC championship and anchored a defense that held opposing offenses down all season long in 2009. He was a part of three teams that made the College Cup and helped the Demon Deacons win the national championship as a freshman in 2007.

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