BALTIMORE, Md. - Chivas USA selected University of West Florida midfeidler Keith Savage with the first pick of the fourth round (43rd overall) in today's 2008 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
"Keith is a hardworking kid who can play up top and in midfield," said Chivas USA Head Coach Preki. "Although he's not a flashy player, his college record clearly shows he can score plenty of goals. We look forward to having him join Chivas USA when we open camp in February."
While at West Florida, the six-foot-two, 185-pound Savage earned a number of national accolades, as 2006 All-South Region Most Outstanding Player and a Division II First Team All-American First Team the same year. The native of Gulf Breeze, Florida, scored 47 goals and had 25 assists in his four seasons at West Florida. Savage was also a three-time All-South Region first teamer, and spent the summers of 2006 and 2007 with the Central Florida Kraze of the Premier Development League, scoring 11 goals and adding 3 assists in the two seasons.
Chivas USA owned a single pick in today's draft as a result of a number of trades over the past year. Key Chivas USA players Paulo Nagamura and Alex Zotinca came to the team in 2007 in exchange for the Red-and-White's first two picks of the 2008 SuperDraft. More recently, Atiba Harris joined Chivas USA from Real Salt Lake for the third-round selection. This ties Chivas USA for the fewest picks by a team in a draft since the SuperDraft format began in 2000.
Chivas USA kicks off its 2008 MLS season on March 30 at FC Dallas before playing its 2008 Home Opener against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, April 5 at The Home Depot Center. For tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
TRANSACTION: Chivas USA selects MF Keith Savage with the 43rd overall pick of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft.
