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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC Selects Four Players in MLS Supplemental Draft

January 17, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


RENTON, WASH. - Seattle Sounders FC selected four players in Tuesday's Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft. In a related move, Seattle also acquired the rights to UCLA midfielder Andy Rose from Real Salt Lake in exchange for the rights to defender Leone Cruz, taken 21st overall in 2011 MLS SuperDraft. Rose was taken by Salt Lake with the 6th overall selection in the 2012 Supplemental Draft.

Defender Tim Pontius of the University of California-Santa Barbara was taken with Seattle's top pick (33rd overall) and midfielder Jason Banton of the Liverpool reserves was chosen with its second pick (34th overall). Seattle selected University of Washington forward Abdul Aman in the third round (53rd overall) and Cal Poly defender Wes Feighner with its final pick (72nd overall).

"I think we have a good balance with two defenders, two midfielders, and a forward. We were happy to do the trade to get Andy Rose," said Sounders FC technical director Chris Henderson. "All of these players are going to have to fight to make the roster. We have a deep team."

Rose, 21, played four seasons at UCLA. A native of England, the holding midfielder was named to the All-Pac-10 Conference First Team in 2010 and 2011. He started all 24 appearances as a senior and started 73 of 81 appearances in his college career, scoring five goals and adding 11 assists.

Pontius, 22, played four seasons at UCSB, making 34 starts in his 72 appearances. He was named to the All-Big West First Team as a senior when he started a career-high 20 games and scored three goals and one assist. Pontius is the younger brother of D.C. United forward Chris Pontius.

Banton, 19, played for England at the U-17 level and made his professional debut with League Two side Burton Albion in October 2011. He played in the youth systems of Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool before signing with Leicester City in July 2011.

Aman, 22, played one season for the Huskies, scoring two game-winning goals, and started six of his 14 appearances. Before joining UW, Aman played one season at Whatcom Community College in 2009 and was named the NWAACC North MVP after leading the league in scoring with 27 goals. He spent the 2008 season at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, where he started 15 of 17 appearances, scoring 12 goals with five assists.

Feighner, 21, made 69 appearances for Cal Poly during his four-year college career. He was a second team All-Big West defender as a senior as he led the Mustangs to a 0.90 goals against average and seven shutouts. Feighner was part of the U-17 National Team in 2007.

Seattle had traded its 15th overall supplemental pick to Chicago in August for rights to Sammy Ochoa and acquired the 33rd overall selection from Dallas (originally Colorado) for Chris Seitz last year.

Prior to the supplemental draft, Sounders FC had selected two players in the MLS SuperDraft on January 12.

The season begins March 7 when Sounders FC will host Mexico's Santos Laguna in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Seattle opens MLS play at home on March 17 against Toronto FC.

Season tickets can be purchased by visiting www.SoundersFC.com or phoning 1-877-MLS-GOAL. Champions League tickets will go on sale on Monday, January 30 at 10 a.m. PT and will be available at www.SoundersFC.com, by calling 800-745-3000 and the CenturyLink Field Box Office as well as all Ticketmaster outlets.

Sounders FC 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft Selections

Andy Rose (rights acquired from Real Salt Lake in exchange for rights to Leone Cruz)

1st Round, 6th Pick, 6th Overall

Position: Midfielder

Height: 6-2

Weight: 170

Birthdate: 2/13/1990

Hometown (Citizenship): Bristol, England (United Kingdom)

College: University of California-Los Angeles (2008-11)

Secondary School: Wycliffe College

Tim Pontius

2nd Round, 14th Pick, 33rd Overall

Position: Defender

Height: 6-0

Weight: 170

Birthdate: 12/21/1989

Hometown (Citizenship): Yorba Linda, California (USA)

College: University of California-Santa Barbara (2008-11)

High School: Servite HS

Jason Banton

2nd Round, 15th Pick, 34th Overall

Position: Midfielder

Height: 6-0

Weight: 172

Birthdate: 12/15/1992

Hometown (Citizenship): Tottenham, England (United Kingdom)

Abdul Aman

3rdRound, 15th Pick, 53rd Overall

Position: Forward

Height: 6-1

Weight: XXX

Birthdate: 8/15/1989

Hometown (Citizenship): Seattle, Washington (USA)

College: University of Washington (2011); Whatcom CC (2009); Clarke University (2008)

High School: Roosevelt HS

Wes Feighner

3rd Round, 15th Pick, 72nd Overall

Position: Defender

Height: 5-10

Weight: 175

Birthdate: 4/3/1990

Hometown (Citizenship): Los Alamitos, California (USA)

College: University Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (2008-11)

High School: Los Alamitos HS

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Major League Soccer Stories from January 17, 2012


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