MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Loses M/D Nathan Sturgis in MLS Expansion Draft

Published on November 26, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SALT LAKE CITY (Wednesday, November 26, 2008) - Major League Soccer held its 2008 Expansion Draft today for the League's 15th team, Seattle Sounders FC, with the team selecting 10 players to continue constructing its roster for the 2009 season. Sounders FC selected one player each from 10 of the 14 MLS teams, a list that includes Real Salt Lake M/D Nathan Sturgis. The four teams with no players selected were the Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, D.C. United and FC Dallas.

Each of the 14 teams was allowed to protect 11 players. Seattle's 10 selections will officially be added to Seattle Sounders FC roster, which already includes Sebastien Le Toux, Kasey Keller, Freddie Llungberg and Sanna Nyassi, on Friday, Nov. 28. Seattle Sounders FC, Major League Soccer's 15th team, will begin play in the Western Conference in the 2009 season at Qwest Field in Seattle.

Seattle Sounders FC have another opportunity to add to their roster this afternoon in the waiver draft. All MLS teams were required to submit their waiver lists by 12:30 p.m. MT and the draft takes place at 2:00 p.m. MT. Players selected in the Waiver Draft will be made public after the draft has concluded.

Below is the complete list of players selected in the 2008 MLS Expansion Draft.

FW Nate Jaqua (Houston Dynamo)

M/D Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake)

DF Jeff Parke (New York Red Bulls)

FW Jarrod Smith (Toronto FC)

MF Khano Smith (New England Revolution)

MF Peter Vagenas (Los Angeles Galaxy)

DF Tyson Wahl (Kansas City Wizards)

DF James Riley (New England Revolution)

MF Stephen King (Chicago Fire)

MF Brad Evans (Columbus Crew)

The 21-year-old Sturgis ends his tenure with Real Salt Lake having made eight appearances since the club acquired he and FW Robbie Findley from the Los Angeles Galaxy last June in a trade that sent M/D Chris Klein to Southern California. A string of injuries all but negated the youngster's 2008 campaign, as a left hamstring strain limited him to just three MLS appearances (two starts), while a reoccurrence of the strain also forced his removal from the U.S. Olympic Team roster after it was named in July.

Sturgis has started 30 of 32 contests in his three-year MLS career since being drafted 12th overall by the Galaxy in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. In addition to his professional career, Sturgis has been a mainstay for the U.S. Youth National Team program over the years, as the versatile Clemson University product has started at left back, center back, and defensive midfielder during his stints with the USA's U-17, U-20, and U-23 squads since 2003.

Sturgis becomes the first Real Salt Lake player lost in an MLS Expansion Draft upon their three occurrences since RSL entered the League in 2005. In 2006, RSL saw Jason Kreis selected by newcomer Toronto FC, but the Utah side made a deal on draft day to reacquire its captain. No RSL player made the San Jose Earthquakes' list of 10 on expansion draft day last season.

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Major League Soccer Stories from November 26, 2008


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