BALTIMORE - The New England Revolution today selected five players in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, which was conducted at the Baltimore Convention Center. First-round selection Rob Valentino, a defender from the University of San Francisco and a member of the U.S. Under-23 National Team player pool, highlighted the five-man draft class. Milford, Mass., and Duke product Mike Videira, Duke's Joe Germanese, Brown's Matthew Britner and Duke's Spencer Wadsworth were also selected by the Revolution in the four-round draft.
Earlier in day the Revs also acquired veteran defender Chris Albright from the Los Angeles Galaxy.
"We're very pleased with our acquisitions today," Revolution Director of Soccer Michael Burns said. "We started the day out very well by bringing in Chris Albright, and we're very satisfied with the draft selections we made. We're looking forward to getting everyone into preseason camp in a couple of weeks and beginning preparations for the 2008 season."
Valentino, 22, was the 2006 West Coast Conference Player of the Year at San Francisco and three-time All-WCC honoree. The 6-foot-3 defender was also a member of the U.S. Under-23 (Olympic) Team that toured Japan in December. He played in both games of the two-game international series.
Valentino played three seasons at San Francisco, but missed the entire 2007 season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He played in 57 career games for the Dons, scoring five goals and adding eight assists. He was also the team captain as a junior in 2006. Valentino is a member of the Generation adidas Class of 2008, leaving San Francisco with one season of collegiate eligibility remaining.
Mike Videira, 22, was chosen by the Revolution with the first of their two second-round selections at 18th overall. Videira is an attacking midfielder and a product of Milford, Mass., having played his college soccer at Duke. Videira was a three-time semifinalist for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy (2005, 2006, 2007) and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) third-team All-American in both 2006 and 2007. In 80 career games with the Blue Devils, Videira scored 17 goals and added 15 assists. As a senior in 2007, he played in 16 games, scoring three goals and two assists while battling a leg injury. He is also a former member of the U.S. Under-18 and Under-20 National Teams.
Joe Germanese, 22, was taken with the team's second pick in the second round, the 25th overall selection. Germanese played in the midfield at Duke after transferring from Vanderbilt after his sophomore season. He was a third-team NSCAA All-South Region selection as a senior, and played in a total of 76 games in his four-year collegiate career. The St. Louis product scored 18 career goals (seven at Duke, 11 at Vanderbilt) and added 22 career assists (13 at Duke, nine at Vandy).
Matthew Britner, 22, was taken in the third round (41st overall) out of Brown University. The defender was a member of Canada's Under-20 World Cup squad in 2005 and other Canadian youth national teams. In his five-year Brown career, Brittner started 53 of the 54 games in which he played, scoring three goals and adding one assist. He was a two-time All-Ivy selection and was the 2007 Ivy League Player of the Year.
Spencer Wadsworth, 21, was the Revs' final SuperDraft selection in 2008, taken in the fourth round with the 55th overall selection. Wadworth, a forward/midfielder, became the third Duke Blue Devil drafted by the Revs in '08. He played in 20 games in 2008, recording two goals and adding one assist, seeing limited action because of off-season surgery and transitioning to the midfield. In his Duke career, Wadsworth played in 86 games and scored 25 goals while adding 34 assists. In 2006, he led the nation in assists with 14.
Earlier in the day, the Revolution acquired Albright, a veteran U.S. National Team defender, from the Los Angeles Galaxy in exchange for allocation money. Albright, who has played the last six seasons in L.A., will enter his 10th MLS season. He has made 172 MLS appearances, scoring 11 goals and adding 20 assists. Albright, who was a member of the U.S.' 2006 FIFA World Cup squad, has earned 22 caps.
The Revolution begins the 2008 season at 7:30 p.m. on March 29 when the team hosts the Houston Dynamo at Gillette Stadium in a rematch of MLS Cup 2007. Fox Soccer Channel will televise the game nationally, and tickets to the match are available through the purchase of 2008 season tickets or special First Kick four-packs. For more information, visit revolutionsoccer.net or call 1-877-GET-REVS.
TRANSACTIONS: Acquired D Chris Albright from the Los Angeles Galaxy in exchange for allocation money. Drafted D Rob Valentino, M Mike Videira, M Joe Germanese, D Matthew Britner and F/M Spencer Wadsworth in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft.
