The Kansas City Wizards added four players to the pool of preseason training participants in Thursday's 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft. Kansas City's technical staff is pleased about the crop of players selected in the same draft that produced defender Aaron Hohlbein in 2007. Hohlbein went on to play in five MLS matches last year and was called into U.S. U-23 camp after the season.
"The four players we added from the Supplemental Draft today will have the opportunity to challenge for roster sports beginning next Monday," Technical Director Peter Vermes said. "Talented players are found in many different places, and we hope we found someone today who will help our team in 2008."
The Wizards held their natural 11th selection in each of the four rounds. With the 11th overall pick, Kansas City selected midfielder Pat Healy from Towson University. Healy led Towson in both goals (8) and assists (9) in 2007. He leaves Towson ranked t-4th in school history in assists (22), 7th in points (79) and 8th in goals (25).
With the 25th overall pick, Kansas City took midfielder Vicente Arze from Mercer University. Arze, a native of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, ranks 2nd all-time at Mercer in assists (19), t-6th in points (61) and 7th all-time in goals (21). He has also earned Atlantic-Sun Freshman of the Year in 2004 and was named first-team all-Atlantic-Sun in 2004 and 2005 and second-team all-Atlantic-Sun in 2006 and 2007. He led the squad in both goals (5) and assists (7) in 2007.
Kansas City selected midfielder Tom Gray from Monmouth University with the 39th overall pick. Gray captained Monmouth in 2007 and finished second on the team in goals (6), assists (4) and points (16). Gray was named first-team all-league in 2006 and second-team all-league in 2007.
The Wizards completed their draft by selecting goalkeeper Andrew Kartunen of Stanford University with the 53rd overall selection. Kartunen posted a 0.56 goals against average and .833 save percentage in eight starts in 2007. He was named honorable mention all-PAC 10 for his performance.
Vitals
1st Round, 11th Pick
Pat Healy
Midfielder
Towson
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 160
Date of Birth: 12/20/1985
2nd Round, 11th Pick
Vicente Arze
Midfielder
Mercer
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 165
3rd Round, 11th Pick
Tom Gray
Midfielder
Monmouth
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 150
Date of Birth: 8/12/1986
4th Round, 11th Pick
Andrew Kartunen
Goalkeeper
Stanford
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 175
Date of Birth: 2/7/1985
