Wake Forest Athletics
Justin Moose Selected Seventh In MLS SuperDraft
1/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Jan. 20, 2006
PHILADELPHIA - Former Wake Forest men's soccer player Justin Moose was selected by D.C. United with the seventh pick of Friday's 2006 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Moose, the highest Demon Deacon selection in MLS SuperDraft history, will reunite with former Wake Forest All-American Brian Carroll.
"I am just excited for the opportunity to not only play in the MLS, but with D.C. United," said Moose. "It is also great because I get to play with BC (Brian Carroll). I have always admired him as both a player and person. He has been there and knows the guys so it will be nice to join them. This is a definitely a new start to my career. I looked at my time at Wake Forest as a tremendous foundation toward my professional career. The coaching staff definitely prepared me to be successful at this level."
"I am thrilled for Justin," said head coach Jay Vidovich. "He is deserving and will make a tremendous addition to D.C. United. He has worked so hard at his game and been such a marked man over his years. It is even sweeter when you think that he will get a chance to play with Brian Carroll and hopefully challenge for a MLS Cup championship."
"We're extremely excited about the addition of Justin to our organization," said D.C. United Technical Director Dave Kasper. "We've tracked him for three years and feel that he fills a need within our line-up. We like Justin's explosiveness, his ability to get behind defenses and his creativity in the final third."
Moose is the third Demon Deacon to get drafted in the first round -- both Michael Parkhurst, 2005 MLS Rookie of the Year, and Scott Sealy were chosen in the first round a year ago. Moose is the eighth Demon Deacon to get drafted in the last three years. In addition to Parkhurst and Sealy, James Riley and Amir Lowery each were selected in last year's draft, while Jeremiah White and William Hesmer were chosen in the 2004 SuperDraft. Carroll was a second round pick of D.C. United in 2003.
Moose, a native of Statesville, N.C., was named first team All-ACC, Top Drawer Soccer third team All-American and a Hermann Trophy semifinalist. He led the Demon Deacons in points with 23 this season on seven goals and nine assists. The All-American is the school's all-time leader in assists with 29 and ranks seventh all-time in scoring with 65 points (18 goals and 29 assists). In 2005, Moose tied an ACC record with four assists in one match and was the only player in ACC history to record the feat in a single half.
The SuperDraft will conclude on Friday, and a supplemental draft will be held in the next month.
- WakeForestSports.com -
