CARSON, Calif. - The Los Angeles Galaxy selected six players in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft, held earlier today via conference call. Much as it did last year, today's draft will help all MLS teams stock their reserve teams for the upcoming season and might include some first team players. A total of 51 players were selected by the league's 13 member clubs in the four-round draft.
With their first round pick (5th overall), the Galaxy took University of California product Steve Purdy. The 6'4" defender was named a first team All-Far West and Pac-10 selection and a second team NSCAA All-American in 2006.
Picking again with the 10th overall selection of the first round, the Galaxy nabbed defender Gordon Kljestan from Seton Hall University. The native of Huntington Beach, CA was a 2006 Preseason All-Big East selection and 2005 All-Big East honorable mention. He is also the brother of Chivas USA midfielder Sasha Kljestan, adding sibling rivalry to the mix in the two-year-old Honda SuperClasico.
In the second round, the club made three selections including University of San Francisco defender Kevin Long (18th overall), Boston University defender Zach Kirby (22nd overall) and Cal State University - Northridge midfielder Taylor Canel (26th overall).
A native of Irvine, CA, Long played 20 games with the Dons and scored two goals in 2006, and was an All-West Coast Conference honorable mention in 2005. Kirby appeared in 72 games and earned America East Defender of the Year honors in 2006 and NSCAA All-New England Second Team honors in 2005. Canel, a native of Marietta, GA, earned first team All-Big West Conference honors and was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-Far West Region team.
The Galaxy concluded their draft by picking UCLA defender Keil McClung. With the Bruins, McClung helped lead the team as co-captain to the NCAA Championship match against UC Santa Barbara (2-1 loss) and earned second team All-PAC Ten honors in 2006.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Galaxy ticket office at 1-877-3-GALAXY.
