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MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Select Five Players in Final Two Rounds of 2015 MLS SuperDraft

January 20, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release


VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC selected five players in the final two rounds of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft on Tuesday, including local midfielder/striker Jovan Blagojevic from Simon Fraser University with their first pick of the third round (54th overall).

The club also selected striker Adam Montague (58th overall), goalkeeper Spencer Richey (61st overall), defender Craig Nitti (72nd overall), and Canadian defender Nikola Paunic (74th overall).

Blagojevic, who Whitecaps FC selected with their first third-round pick (54th overall), spent the last four seasons with the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Clan. SFU is the only Canadian university competing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The 23-year-old midfielder/striker is coming off a spectacular senior season, leading the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) with 18 goals in 18 games. He also scored a conference-high seven game-winning goals and led SFU to their third consecutive national tournament appearance.

Blagojevic, who was born in Serbia before moving to British Columbia at the age of two, was named the 2014 West Region Player of the Year and GNAC Player of the Year in addition to earning second team All-American honours. He ended his GNAC career fifth on the conference all-time points list with 90 and tied for fifth in goals scored with 38.

Montague, who Whitecaps FC selected with their second third-round pick (58th overall), spent the last four seasons with the Michigan State University Spartans. The 22-year-old striker recorded 23 goals and 21 assists in 77 total appearances.

Among his accolades at Michigan State include All-Big Ten second team honours in 2011, 2013, and 2014 - in addition an All-Big Ten first team nod in 2012, when he was also named the offensive player of the tournament at the Big Ten Tournament.

The Sylvania, Ohio native captained Michigan State during his junior and senior seasons.

Richey, who Whitecaps FC selected with their final third-round pick (61st overall), spent the last five years with the University of Washington - he was a medical redshirt in 2013 after breaking his leg early in the season.

This past season, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound goalkeeper allowed just 22 goals in 17 appearances, leading the University of Washington to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the second straight season. In total, Richey conceded just 65 goals and posted 30 clean sheets over 71 total appearances at the University of Washington.

A native of Seattle, Washington, Richey is a former U.S. U-20 and U-17 international who participated in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He also spent a year with Portland Timbers U-23 of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL).

Nitti, who Whitecaps FC selected with their first fourth-round pick (72nd overall), spent the last four seasons at Loyola Marymount University (LMU). In total, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound centre back appeared in 70 matches at LMU, contributing 11 goals and four assists.

This past season, Nitti anchored an LMU back line that posted nine clean sheets and a 0.68 goals against average on the season, conceding just four goals in conference play. For his efforts, the California native received All-West Coast Conference first-team and All-Far West Region second team honours.

Nitti was a member of Portland Timbers U-23 in the summer of 2013.

Paunic, who Whitecaps FC selected with their final pick (74th overall), spent the last two seasons at the University of South Florida (USF) after transferring from the University of Toronto. The 6-foot-3 centre back, who has previously represented the Canadian U-20 side, started 40 of his 41 appearances with USF and was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Tournament Team this past season.

Born in Podgorica, Montenegro, Paunic is a Canadian citizen who served as team captain for Toronto FC's academy for two seasons.

Jovan Blagojevic

Pronunciation: yo-van blah-go-ye-vich

Position: Midfielder/striker

Height: 5-11

Weight: 165 pounds

Date of Birth: April 6, 1991 in Belgrade, Serbia

Hometown: Coquitlam, British Columbia

Citizenship: Canada

Status: Domestic

Last Club: Simon Fraser University

How Acquired: Selected 54th overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC

Adam Montague

Position: Striker

Height: 6-03

Weight: 185 pounds

Date of Birth: October 16, 1992 in Sylvania, Ohio

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Citizenship: United States

Status: Domestic

Last Club: Michigan State University

How Acquired: Selected 58th overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC

Spencer Richey

Position: Goalkeeper

Height: 6-01

Weight: 195 pounds

Date of Birth: May 30, 1992 in Seattle, Washington

Hometown: Seattle, Washington

Citizenship: United States

Status: Domestic

Last Club: University of Washington

How Acquired: Selected 61st overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC

Craig Nitti

Position: Striker

Height: 6-05

Weight: 220 pounds

Date of Birth: January 19, 1992 in Van Nuys, California

Hometown: Calabasas, California

Citizenship: United States / Italy

Status: Domestic

Last Club: Loyola Marymount University

How Acquired: Selected 72nd overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC

Nikola Paunic

Position: Defender

Height: 6-03

Weight: 190 pounds

Date of Birth: October 13, 1993 in Podgorica, Montenegro

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Citizenship: Canada

Status: Domestic

Last Club: University of South Florida

How Acquired: Selected 74th overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC"‹

Participate in the best sporting experience in Vancouver! The 2015 Whitecaps FC season kicks off on March 7 versus Toronto FC at BC Place. Season Tickets are now on sale, starting at $397. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, Student Half-Season Tickets, and a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket. For more information on 2015 Season Tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.

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Major League Soccer Stories from January 20, 2015


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