Wizards Add Three Players in Supplemental Draft
February 4, 2005 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
KANSAS CITY, MO (Friday, February 4, 2005) - The Kansas City Wizards added three more players to their roster today in today's MLS Supplemental Draft that took place via conference call. Kansas City selected forward Edwin Ruiz from Hartwick College, midfielder Doug Lascody from Southwest Missouri State and defender Ryan Caugherty from Wake Forest.
"We are allocating more recourses than ever to developing players and that will positively impact our on-field product," said Wizards General manager Curt Johnson. "Edwin, Doug and Ryan are talented players who are directly benefiting from the first supplemental draft and the expansion of our rosters from 24 to 28 players. We look forward to getting them in camp."
With the 11th overall pick in the first round, the Wizards selected Hartwick College forward Edwin Ruiz. Ruiz, 25, led Hartwick in scoring in 2004 with 13 goals and 9 assists (35 points) while leading the Hawks to a 13-3-3 record and earning NSCAA Second Team All-America honors. Ruiz, who was born in Santa Barbara, Honduras and holds a green card, was a two-year starter at Hartwick, scoring 18 goals and adding 16 assists in two seasons after transferring from Bryant & Stratton Junior College.
Southwest Missouri State midfielder Doug Lascody was the Wizards second selection of the draft, picked in the 3rd round with the 35th overall selection. Lascody was a four-year starter at SMS, and was among the team's leading scorers each of his four seasons. In 2004, he was among the Nation's leaders in assists with 13 in just 19 games played.
The Wizards final pick was Wake Forest defender Ryan Caugherty, taken with the 47th overall selection. Caugherty was college teammates with current Wizards goalkeeper Will Hesmer and forward Ryan Sealy. The 22-year-old, Korean-born defender has been a key component of the Demon Deacons 57-18-8 overall record over the last four seasons.
The trio of Wizards draft picks will join the squad in Kansas City for training through Monday, February 14th. The team will then depart for a two-week training camp that will be held in Tampa, Florida before returning to Kansas City on March 1st. The team's first match of the year will take place on Wednesday, March 9th as they host Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa at Arrowhead Stadium in the first leg of the 2005 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. They will play the return leg in San Jose, Costa Rica on March 16th.
Kansas City will kickoff the 2005 MLS season on Saturday, April 2nd when they host former Western Conference rivals the Colorado Rapids at Arrowhead Stadium, with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. CT. The reigning Western Conference Champion Wizards will begin their first season in the Eastern Conference, as MLS welcomes two expansion teams, Real Salt Lake and CD Chivas USA, to the Western Conference.
Wizards 2005 Season Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Wizards office at 816-920-9300. Individual tickets for all MLS home games will go on sale in March 7th. For more information, log on to www.kcwizards.com or call 816-920-9300.
Major League Soccer Stories from February 4, 2005
- D.C. United Acquires Kenny Arena - D.C. United
- MetroStars announce international preseason schedule - New York Red Bulls
- MetroStars Acquire Future Considerations from D.C. United in Exchange for Kenny Arena - New York Red Bulls
- MetroStars tab three in 2005 MLS Supplemental SuperDraft - New York Red Bulls
- Columbus Selects Five Players In 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft - Columbus Crew SC
- Galaxy select three forwards in MLS Supplemental Draft - LA Galaxy
- Wizards Add Three Players in Supplemental Draft - Sporting Kansas City
- FC Dallas Makes Six Selections at 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft - FC Dallas
- Earthquakes Add Four Players in 2005 Supplemental Draft - San Jose Earthquakes
- D.C. United Selects Matt Nickell, Andrew Terris and Shawn Kuykendall in Supplemental Draft - D.C. United
- Revolution selects four players in MLS Supplemental draft - New England Revolution
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