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MLS LA Galaxy

Galaxy Make Four Selections at SuperDraft

January 21, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


ST. LOUIS, MO. -- The LA Galaxy made four selections at the 2009 MLS SuperDraft Thursday as General Manager and Head Coach Bruce Arena continue to shape the club's roster ahead of the upcoming 2009 MLS season. The club selected two defenders and two midfielders in the four-round draft, which was held at the St. Louis Convention Center. The Galaxy selected University of Maryland defenders Omar Gonzalez and A.J. Delagarza in the first two rounds before wrapping up the draft by selecting a pair of midfielders in Josh Boateng from Liberty University and Kyle Patterson from St. Louis University. "In all drafts, the ability to analyze how well you did will surface a couple of years down the road. But, we are very pleased with our draft picks and think that we got some players that we wanted," Arena said. "We were able to get two of the finest defenders in college soccer and two flank players with our third and fourth picks who will strengthen our team and give us some cover and depth."

The Galaxy opened their draft by selecting Omar Gonzalez with the No. 3 of the first round of the SuperDraft. A central defender from the University of Maryland, Gonzalez helped lead the Terrapins to the 2008 College Cup championship and was named the College Cup Defensive MVP. A member of the Generation adidas program, the 20-year old was named an NSCAA/adidas First Team All-American in 2008, a member of the All-ACC First Team and a semifinalist for 2008 MAC Hermann Trophy which is given annually to the nation's best college soccer player.

In the second round of the SuperDraft, the Galaxy traded Ante Jazic to Chivas USA, along with the 35th overall pick and the 49th overall pick in exchange for the 19th overall pick, which the club used to select University of Maryland defender A.J. Delagarza. Capable of playing anywhere along the back line, Delagarza played all 26 games for the National Champion Terrapins in 2008. A native of Bryans Road, Md., Delagarza started all but seven games during his four-year career at Maryland, appearing in 88 games, making 81 starts and collecting two assists while helping Maryland win the National Championship as a freshman in 2005 and as a senior in 2008, starting each of the National Championship games.

In the third round (33rd overall), the Galaxy selected Josh Boateng, a midfielder from Liberty University. A native of Accra, Ghana, Boateng scored 26 goals and added 16 assists during his four-year career at Liberty, including a career-best 13 goals and six assists in 2008. A Third-team NSCAA All-American in 2008, Boateng was also named First-team All-South Atlantic Region and First-team Big South All-Conference. In 2007, Boateng was named the Big South Tournament MVP after helping the Flames win their first-ever Big South Conference title and qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.

The Galaxy wrapped up their SuperDraft by selecting Kyle Patterson from St. Louis University in the fourth round with the 48th overall pick. Also capable of playing up front, Patterson scored 29 goals and added 15 assists in his four-year career with the Billikens. A native of Birmingham, England, Patterson was a member of the youth academy at West Bromwich Albion before heading to the United States for college. He started all 40 of the Billikens games in 2007 and 2008, scoring 22 goals and adding nine assists, leading the team in goals each season.

The LA Galaxy are now accepting deposits for the 2009 season, which kicks off at 12 p.m. on Sunday, March 22 when the club hosts D.C. United at The Home Depot Center. A non-refundable deposit of 25% per seat secures your place for each 2009 Galaxy regular season game, plus great benefits including exclusive events with the team, special season seat holder gifts, and much more.

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