SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC today selected San Diego State defender Aleks Berkolds in the Third Round (68th overall) of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, with the Third and Fourth Rounds held via conference call Monday morning. Berkolds joins Air Force Academy midfielder Tucker Bone and Creighton defender Joel Rydstrand, who were drafted on Friday in the First and Second Rounds, respectively, rounding out the Rave Green's 2019 draft class.
Berkolds, 22, played every minute of the 2018 campaign, starting all 18 matches and leading the team with 1,650 minutes played for the Aztecs, who went 7-10-1. The Northridge, California native also started 13 matches as a redshirt freshman in 2015, recording one goal and two assists following a standout career at Crespi Carmelite High School, where he was a three-time team Defensive Player of the Year.
On Friday's first day of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, the Rave Green selected Bone with the 20th pick in the First Round, then chose Rydstrand with the 20th selection of the Second Round (44th overall).
Sounders FC begins its 2019 preseason on Tuesday, January 22 at Starfire Sports before traveling to out-of-town training camps in Orange County, California (January 24-February 2) and Tucson, Arizona (February 6-16). Major League Soccer unveiled Sounders FC's full 2019 schedule earlier this week, with the Rave Green set to host expansion side FC Cincinnati in the season opener on March 2 at CenturyLink Field.
TRANSACTION: Sounders FC selects Aleks Berkolds with the 20th selection in the Third Round (68th overall) of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft (currently unsigned to the First Team roster).
Name: Aleks Berkolds
Position: Defender
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Age: 22
Born: April 27, 1996
Hometown: Northridge, California
Citizenship: United States
College: San Diego State
Acquired: Selected with the 20th pick of the Third Round (68th overall) in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft
