Sounders FC Signs Two SuperDraft Picks
RENTON, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC signed 2012 MLS SuperDraft picks defender Andrew Duran and forward Babayele Sodade, the club announced today. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms were not disclosed.
Duran, a 22-year-old defender from Creighton University, was selected by Seattle with its first pick (15th overall) in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. He was named the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and NSCAA All-American Second Team in 2011. He made 59 appearances with 48 starts in his five seasons at Creighton. Duran made a career-high 24 starts as a senior and earned College Soccer News All-American First Team honors. He helped lead Creighton to one of the best defensive performances in 2011 with a 0.2 goals against average and 19 shutouts, one shy of the NCAA record.
“Andrew was our first round pick and we feel he is a very solid defender,” said Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid. “He either wins his duels or doesn’t lose his duels, which is important. His passing has been good for us out of the back and he’s also very versatile, two-footed and has played at left and right back as well as in the middle.”
Sodade, 21, was selected by Seattle in the second round (34th overall) of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. He was named to the All-Conference USA First Team and NSCAA All-Midwest Region Second Team as a senior at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He finished his college career tied-fourth in school history with 29 goals. The six-foot-three forward was born in Maryland but grew up in Nigeria and Ontario, Canada.
“Sodade represents something a little different from our other forwards,” said Schmid. “He’s a big, physical presence up there. We think there’s a lot of raw talent there and we like his attitude—he works very hard, he’s got good speed and good feet for a big guy. Sodade is a player who will provide us with some alternatives up front.”
Sounders FC kicks off the competitive soccer season against Mexico’s Santos Laguna in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 7. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.
Transaction: Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) – Signed DEF Andrew Duran
Position: Defender
Jersey Number: 30
Height: 6-1
Weight: 160
Birthdate: 9/26/1989
Place of Birth: Hinsdale, Illinois
Hometown (Citizenship): Mokena, Illinois (USA)
College: Creighton (2007-2011)
High School: Lincoln-Way East HS
Transaction: Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) – Signed FW Babayele Sodade
Position: Forward
Jersey Number: 19
Height: 6-3
Weight: 183
Birthdate: 7/26/1990
Place of Birth: Olney, Maryland
Hometown (Citizenship): Windsor, Ontario (Canada and United States)
College: University of Alabama-Birmingham
Pronunciation: Bah-bye-elle-EE Sho-Dahd-DAY
