Islanders draft McAthy first overall
January 18, 2005 - USL First Division (USL-1) News Release
TAMPA, FL â Former Cape Cod Crusader and Orange County Blue Star forward Drew McAthy of UC-Santa Barbara was drafted first overall in the 2005 USL First Division College Draft Tuesday afternoon by the Puerto Rico Islanders.
McAthy helped lead his Gauchos to the NCAA Men's Division I championship game in December, where he was named the College Cup's Most Outstanding Offensive Player. McAthy registered two goals and an assist in their 5-0 semifinal win over Duke and the lone Gauchos goal of the 1-1 championship game that saw the Indiana Hoosiers repeat as champions in a penalty kick shootout 3-2.
McAthy played in the Premier Development League for two seasons, recording five goals and two assists for Cape Cod in 2004 and two goals for Orange County in 2003.
In all, 14 PDL players with 34 years of PDL experience were drafted. Among them were 2004 PDL Championship MVP Justin Cook of the Central Florida Kraze. Drafted 12th by the Portland Timbers, the Ohio State forward scored the lone goal in the championship two minutes from regulation to give the Kraze the title.
Rochester Rhinos' second round pick Scott Palguta (Cornell) is the only other player from a PDL championship team, having been a member of the Cape Cod Crusaders the last three seasons. Cape Cod won back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2003. Palguta was a significant factor in the championship runs on the back line, playing in 42 regular season games and pitching in offensively with three goals and two assists.
PDL 2003 All-League selection Doco Wesseh was selected by the Virginia Beach Mariners with the 16th overall pick in the second round. A four-year PDL veteran, he played for the Chicago Eagles Select in 2001 and 2002 before joining the Thunder Bay Chill the last two seasons. The Judson College forward has 33 goals and 13 assists in his PDL career.
Three-year Michigan Bucks forward Mychal Turpin of the University of Michigan was taken by the Richmond Kickers with the 22nd selection. Turpin has scored 15 goals and eight assists in his PDL career.
USL First Division Stories from January 18, 2005
- Islanders draft McAthy first overall - USL-1
- Lynx Bolster Roster in 2005 College Draft - Toronto Lynx
- Kickers Select Two Promising Attacking Players In USL First Division Draft - Richmond Kickers
- Battery drafts two in USL First Division College Player Draft - Charleston Battery
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