KANSAS CITY, Mo. - 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.
EDWIN RUIZ
Position: Forward
Height: 5-8
Weight: 160
Born: October 19, 1979
Place of Birth: Santa Barbara, Honduras
Hometown: Miami, FL
College: Hartwick College
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round (11th overall) of the 2005 MLS
Supplemental Draft
DOUG LASCODY
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
Born: March 8, 1983
Place of Birth: Springfield, IL
Hometown: Springfield, IL
College: Southwest Missouri State
Acquired: Drafted in the 3rd round (35th overall) of the 2005 MLS
Supplemental Draft
RYAN CAUGHERTY
Position: Defender
Height: 6-0
Weight: 173
Born: September 23, 1982
Place of Birth: Korea
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
College: Wake Forrest
Acquired: Drafted in the 4th round (47th overall) of the 2005 MLS
Supplemental Draft
