Wake Forest Athletics
Four Deacs Selected in First Round of 2010 MLS SuperDraft
1/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Jan. 14, 2010
Video of Opara Selection | Video of Schilawski Selection | Video of Bone Selection | Video of da Luz Selection
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Four Wake Forest players were selected in the first round of the 2010 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, held on Thursday afternoon at the Pennsylvania Convention Center."It's a tremendous statement for our program and the young men that Wake Forest has been able to attract," head coach Jay Vidovich said. "I'm just excited for them to have the opportunity to pursue their professional ambitions and I want to wish them the best of luck."
Defender Ike Opara was the first Wake Forest player selected, going third overall to the San Jose Earthquakes. Forward Zack Schilawski was drafted by the New England Revolution with the ninth overall selection. Midfielders Corben Bone and Austin da Luz were selected on consecutive picks. Bone went 13th overall to the Chicago Fire, while da Luz was taken with the 14th pick by the New York Red Bulls.
The four players taken from Wake Forest in the first round marks the first time in MLS SuperDraft history that one school has had four players taken in the first round of a single draft. The previous record of three was held by UCLA (2000) and Maryland (2009).
Since the MLS SuperDraft began in 2006, Wake Forest has had 11 players selected in the first round, including at least one player in each of the last six drafts. The Demon Deacons rank second among all colleges in number of players taken in the first round, trailing only UCLA, which has had 14 players selected in the first round.
Overall, Wake Forest has had 27 players taken in the MLS SuperDraft, including 16 players taken in the last four drafts.
A native of Durham, N.C., Opara was considered the top defender available in the draft. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009, Opara was a part of 35 shutouts during his three-year college career, including a school-record 15 clean sheets in 2007. A consensus first team All-American in 2009, Opara scored three goals and two assists during his junior season. In his career, Opara played in 65 games, with 62 starts, and scored nine goals and three assists.
"I am happy to be selected by San Jose," Opara told SJEarthquakes.com. "First and foremost I'm going to bring a good attitude to the team. I look forward to hopefully building a special franchise and helping this team get to the MLS Cup sometime in the near future."
A 2009 All-ACC first team selection, Schilawski led the ACC with 14 goals and 35 points in 2009. A native of Cary, N.C., Schilawski also led Wake Forest with five game winning goals during his senior season. He was named an All-American by the NSCAA and College Soccer News following the season. Schilawski played in a school record 99 games during his career and finished with 40 goals, 20 assists and 100 points. He leaves Wake Forest third in school annals in both goals and points.
Schilawski joins former Wake Forest players Pat Phelan and Wells Thompson on the New England roster.
"I was so excited when I heard my name called," Schilawski said to RevolutionSoccer.net. "Wake Forest has put a lot of guys in New England and I've heard it's a great place to be. I know they're going to take care of me. I think it's a place where I can succeed if I work hard. I'm really relieved and thrilled. It's a dream come true."
A finalist for the 2009 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy, Bone scored three goals and 13 assists during the 2009 season. The 2009 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Bone finished the season second in the ACC in helpers and 13th nationally in assists per game. A native of Plano, Texas, Bone was a consensus first team All-American following the season. He leaves Wake Forest with 15 goals and 38 assists in 68 games played, including 59 starts. Bone ranks second in school history in career assists and ninth in points (68).
"I am so grateful to be joining a great club like the Chicago Fire," Bone told Chicago-Fire.com. "I look forward to joining the team right away and start contributing in any way I can in 2010. I'd like to thank Coach de los Cobos and Frank Klopas for giving me this opportunity."
A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., da Luz led the ACC with 15 assists, including eight game-winning assists, in 2009 and also finished second in the conference with 27 points. A 2009 All-ACC First Team selection, da Luz ranked fourth nationally in assists per game. He was also named to the NSCAA All-South Region first team following the season. Da Luz leaves Wake Forest as the school leader in career assists with 39 assists. In 80 games played, including 44 starts, da Luz also scored 13 goals to finish his collegiate career with 65 points.
"I'm incredibly excited to be selected in the first round," da Luz said. "I couldn't be more excited to go to New York. They have a new coach and a new organization so it's kind of a fresh start for that organization. I'm ready to get started."
