Wizards Add Five Players in Supplemental Draft
January 26, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
KANSAS CITY, MO (Thursday, January 26, 2006) - The Kansas City Wizards added five players in today's MLS Supplemental Draft, including local products Corey Farabi from Overland Park and Luke Enna from Kansas City, MO. The Wizards also added Trinidad defender Anthony Noriega from George Mason with the 4th overall pick as well as midfielder/forward Ryan McMahen from Michigan State and midfielder Chris Hamburger from Drake.
"We feel we picked up another good group of players in the draft today that can come in and compete for a spot on our roster," said General Manager Curt Johnson. "We have a chance to add more depth to our team with a little local flavor."
Noriega, 24, was a three-year starter at George Mason University and was the 2005 Colonial Athletic Association Defender of the Year and All-South Atlantic First Team selection after anchoring a Patriot defense that recorded five shutouts during the season. Noriega hails from San Fernando, Trinidad and has been a part of the Trinidad & Tobago National Team at the U-17, U-20, U-23 and full international levels.
"With Noriega, I was surprised that he was still available at the end of the SuperDraft," said Head Coach Bob Gansler. "He is a youth international who was just about as good as any of the defenders in the Combine. To underscore that, he has been called into the Trinidad & Tobago training camp. I think he is the top of the ladder in terms of the five guys we got today."
McMahen, a 23-year-old from Munster, Indiana was picked by the Wizards in the 2nd round (16th overall). He was a second team All-American his senior year after leading the Spartans with seven goals and five assists. He finished his career with 28 assists, ranking second in MSU history. McMahen was college teammates with current Wizards midfielder John Minagawa-Webster.
"Ryan comes highly recommended by the folks at the Big Ten Conference. He is an attacking-type midfielder who we saw at the Big Ten tournament. He was close to being invited to the Combine, but didn't quite realize that, so we are anxious to see him," said Gansler.
With the 28th overall pick, the Wizards selected Overland Park native Corey Farabi. Farabi was Drake's second leading scorer with 12 points in 2005, leading the Bulldogs with eight assists while being named to the first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference. In high school, Farabi was named Kansas Class 6A All-State in 2001 while at Blue Valley Northwest.
Farabi played club soccer for the Kansas City Legends under Head Coach Andy Barney. While with the Legends, Farabi was a part of three Kansas State Cup Championships as well as four indoor National titles. He was also a member of the Des Moines Menace (PDL) that fell to the Wizards in the fourth round of the 2005 U.S. Open Cup.
The Wizards selected a second Drake Bulldog in the 4th round with the 40th overall pick, taking midfielder Chris Hamburger. Hamburger, 21, hails from Lincoln, Nebraska and finished third on the Bulldogs in scoring in 2005 and joined teammate Corey Farabi as first team All-Midwest Region selections. He was also a member of the Des Moines Menace that fell to the Wizards in the 2005 U.S. Open Cup last summer.
"The local guys endeared themselves to the coaching staff during their time with the Des Moines Menace," added Gansler. "Both Farabi and Hamburger played against us in the Open Cup and I thought they did a very good job and we kept that in mind."
Kansas City selected another local product with their final pick of the Supplemental Draft, taking Luke Enna with the 45th overall pick. Enna, from Kansas City, MO, led Tampa with nine goals, three assists and 21 points and ranked fourth in the SSC in goals. He attended Oak Park High School where he was an All-State, All-District and All-Conference. Enna played club soccer for the Futura Futbol Club under Head Coach Todd Logan.
"Luke Enna is another Kansas City native and we saw him at a player workout in Florida," Gansler noted. " We thought he had a cultured left foot that would give us an interesting decision on the left side of midfield."
The Wizards will report for physicals on Tuesday, January 31st and begin preseason training on Wednesday, February 1st. The 2006 MLS regular season will kickoff on Saturday, April 1st when the Wizards host Eastern Conference rivals the Columbus Crew at Arrowhead Stadium at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Wizards complete 2006 schedule is expected to be released later this month.
Major League Soccer Stories from January 26, 2006
- Chivas USA selects three in 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Crew Selects Fahlgren Mortine As Public Relations Agency Of Record - Columbus Crew SC
- Wizards Add Five Players in Supplemental Draft - Sporting Kansas City
- Crew Selects Three Players In 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft - Columbus Crew SC
- MetroStars Tab Four in MLS Supplemental Draft - New York Red Bulls
- 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft Results - MLS
- FC Dallas Makes Five Selections in 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft - FC Dallas
- Rapids Acquire Four Players In 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft - Colorado Rapids
- Revolution selects four players in MLS Supplemental Draft - New England Revolution
- Galaxy Select Three Players With Southland Ties in MLS Supplemental Draft - LA Galaxy
- Chivas USA names Zak Abdel as goalkeeper coach - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- D.C. United selects two in 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft - D.C. United
- Real Salt Lake selects Jeff Rowland with No. 2 overall pick in Supplemental Draft - Real Salt Lake
- D.C. United set to kick off preseason training - D.C. United
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
