FC Dallas selected five players in Thursday's MLS SuperDraft, which aired live on ESPN2 from the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
The club started the day by selecting North Carolina All-American Zach Loyd in the first round (fifth overall). Following Loyd, FC Dallas chose Generation adidas forward Andrew Wiedeman (2nd round - 21st overall), Penn State forward Jason Yeisley (3rd round - 38th overall), midfielder Eric Alexander (3rd round - 44th overall) and SMU forward Dane Saintus (4th round - 54th overall).
"I think when we came into the draft our purpose was to continue to find good character, good players that will continue to add to our team chemistry," said FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman. "Watching Zach (Loyd) play two or three times, we felt like he was one of the better players in the draft. He also was a little bit older not coming in with Generation adidas, and we're really fortunate and happy to be able to get a person of his abilities, his character and his determination to be part of our team. I think the other purpose was we tried to find some attacking players."
An Oklahoma native, Loyd is a two-time NCAA College Cup Tournament Team selection and both an NSCAA and College Soccer News First Team All-American.
"I'm very excited and optimistic," said Loyd following his first round selection. "I know I'm going to have to go in there and work hard and earn my spot or my time, so I'm just ready to get it going."
Wiedeman expressed similar expectations following his second-round selection. "Obviously it's going to be a lot quicker, a lot harder, a lot faster," he said of the pro game. "Physically, it will be real taxing. I'm just eager to get out there, work and show what I can do to help the team out."
A 20-year-old forward out of California, Wiedeman played three seasons for Kevin Grimes' Cal Bears. Grimes played and coached under Hyndman at SMU. Wiedeman scored 11 goals during the 2008 season for the Bears, tallying 30 career goals and 15 career assists in 59 games during his collegiate career.
FC Dallas picked up 2009 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Yeisley and Indiana University midfielder Alexander in the third round, and Hyndman spoke highly of both players, praising Alexander for his showing at the recent combine and crediting Yeisley's Penn State coach Barry Gorman for always delivering well-educated players.
Finally, Dallas rounded out the day with local flavor, selecting SMU standout Dane Saintus. Saintus notched a team-best eight goals during the 2009 season along with five assists.
"We have a lot of good players, and as our team continues to get better and better, not only will we have good players, we want good character and I think we found that," Hyndman said following the club's final selection.
FC Dallas will kick off the 2010 season at Pizza Hut Park on March 27 against in-state rival Houston Dynamo. For more information on affordable season ticket plans, visit FCDallas.com or call 888-FCD-GOAL (323-4625).
FC Dallas 2010 SuperDraft Selections:
Zach Loyd
1st Round, 5th Overall
DOB: 7-18-1987
HT: 5-9
WT: 160
Hometown: Verdigris, OK
Position: Defender/Midfielder
College: North Carolina
Andrew Wiedeman
2nd Round, 21st Overall
DOB: 8-22-1989
HT: 5-11
WT: 165
Hometown: San Ramon, CA
Position: Forward
College: University of California
Jason Yeisley
3rd Round, 38th Overall
DOB: 9-30-1986
HT: 6-1
WT: 200
Hometown: Allentown, PA
Position: Forward
College: Penn State University
Eric Alexander
3rd Round, 44th Overall
DOB: 4-14-1988
HT: 6-1
WT: 165
Hometown: Portage, Michigan
Position: Midfield
College: Indiana University
Dane Saintus
4th Round, 54th Overall
HT: 5-11
WT: 164
Hometown: Arlington, TX
Position: Forward
College: Southern Methodist University
