The 2019 MLS SuperDraft took place on Friday in Chicago, Illinois, as the best athletes in collegiate soccer from this past season get the opportunity to pursue a career with any of the 24 teams in the league.
Maryland men’s soccer just capped off another national championship-winning season in 2018, led by a stout back line and timely goals from a variety of players on offense. The team’s five seniors—Amar Sejdic, Sebastian Elney, DJ Reeves, Andrew Samuels and Chase Gasper—are all in the player pool, while redshirt junior goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair is also available thanks to his signing with Generation Adidas, which allows select players to leave college before their senior season.
The Terps have the most players in the draft, and they also had the most participants at the combine this past week with five (Reeves did not attend). Junior defender Donovan Pines is also leaving school to pursue professional opportunities, though his rights are already with D.C. United, as he played in the program’s youth academy.
Without further ado, let’s get to the selections.
Dayne St. Clair
No. 7 overall — Minnesota United FC
St. Clair was the first goalkeeper selected in the draft at No. 7 overall. In his final season with the Terrapins, he posted a 0.66 goals-against average with an .835 save percentage. St. Clair had 13 clean sheets on the year, including all five games in the NCAA Tournament. The last Maryland player drafted this high was forward Casey Townsend, who was selected No. 5 overall in 2012 by Chivas USA.
The Loons pick up a ‘keeper! Get to know Dayne St. Clair. // #SuperDraft by @adidassoccer pic.twitter.com/C8OKmwFcAV
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 11, 2019
Allll the swag from @SaintC17 coming to the Loons #HeATerp pic.twitter.com/jl1251Io5z
— Maryland Soccer (@MarylandMSoccer) January 11, 2019
Thanks to @MNUFC for the opportunity, can’t wait to get started #MNUFC pic.twitter.com/XV7wfxo7Lx
— DSC (@SaintC17) January 11, 2019
@SaintC17: “Drafted by @MNUFC...pure ecstasy!” pic.twitter.com/8ZpatVDWnr
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 11, 2019
GET THIS MAN A TATER TOT HOT DISH ASAP pic.twitter.com/8YBgtk90eF
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) January 11, 2019
Chase Gasper
No. 15 overall — Minnesota United FC
Minutes before the clock ran out, Minnesota United FC traded up with the Chicago Fire to take Gasper at No. 15. That means that two pieces of Maryland’s championship-winning back line are headed to the same MLS team. Gasper only played 15 games due to a back injury, but he was able to rack up five assists from his left back position.
Pick #15 is in. @MNUFC take defender Chase Gasper out of @MarylandMSoccer. #SuperDraft pic.twitter.com/ZYRewieNku
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 11, 2019
crab cakes & football
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) January 11, 2019
that’s what Maryland does pic.twitter.com/44Sttvss4n
The dream comes true for @chasegasper3!
— Maryland Soccer (@MarylandMSoccer) January 11, 2019
DMV ➡️ UMD ➡️ MLS. #HeATerp pic.twitter.com/K34tqdAT4j
Sup Chase? pic.twitter.com/gxc1QR5ppc
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) January 11, 2019
Andrew Samuels
No. 33 overall — Houston Dynamo
The third Terps player off the board, Samuels was taken to help bolster the Dynamo back line. Unlike fellow midfielder Amar Sejdic, Samuels works best as a defensive midfielder. In 2018, a midseason formation change put him to work with the back line and the results were terrific. He’s a bit smaller at 5’9, 150 lbs, but he could bulk up with professional conditioning.
The Dynamo grab another defender. Check out Andrew Samuels. // #SuperDraft by @adidassoccer pic.twitter.com/4tXQPpuRS5
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 11, 2019
So excited to be going to Houston!! I can’t wait to get started ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Qeo6eofqqE
— Andrew Samuels (@asamuels6) January 11, 2019
Say hello to @asamuels6, Dynamo fans!#SuperDraft #ForeverOrange pic.twitter.com/4bQRW9B06D
— Houston Dynamo (@HoustonDynamo) January 11, 2019
Amar Sejdic
No. 34 overall — Montreal Impact
The man who won Maryland the national championship with his penalty-kick goal in the 57th minute was picked right after Samuels. The first player on Maryland’s offense to be selected, he will be heading north of the border to play for one of the three MLS teams in Canada. Sejdic led the Terrapins on offense in 2018, scoring eight goals and adding an assist for a team-high 17 points.
From Maryland to Montreal. Here’s what Amar Sejdic brings to the Impact. // #SuperDraft by @adidassoccer pic.twitter.com/kNaeVazXbX
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 11, 2019
Le maître et l'élève@Remi_Garde @AmarSejdic_10 #IMFC #SuperDraft pic.twitter.com/a3RyMzbnMD
— Impact de Montréal (@impactmontreal) January 11, 2019
Undrafted
Maryland senior forwards DJ Reeves and Sebastian Elney were not selected in the final two rounds of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, which took place on Monday. They will now be free to explore professional options elsewhere, whether that is in the United States or abroad. Elney finished his Maryland career with 19 goals and 10 assists, while Reeves added five goals and nine assists in more limited playing time.