Two WCC Players Selected in 2015 MLS SuperDraft

Major League Soccer held the first two rounds of the annual MLS SuperDraft on Thursday, and two West Coast Conference players were selected. Miguel Aguilar of the San Francisco Dons was taken in the 1st round (17th overall) by D.C United, and Connor Brandt of the San Diego Toreros was taken in the 2nd round (23rd overall) by New York City FC.

Aguilar was a All-WCC selection as a forward all four years with the Dons. He was selected to the All-WCC Second Team his first three years before being selected to the First Team this past season. He had 4 goals and 11 points for a Dons team that nearly won the WCC Championship finishing tied for 2nd with Saint Mary’s.

While his numbers aren’t eye-popping, especially for a forward, it appears Aguilar’s extensive MLS experience helped him expose himself to teams and led to his high draft status. Aguilar participated in the MLS Player Combine where he impressed with a goal and assist. He also spent two summers playing for MLS Academies with the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers.

Brandt is coming off a decorated season where he led the Toreros to a WCC Championship and the NCAA Tournament. The midfielder was named WCC Player of the Year after leading the conference in points and finishing tied for 2nd in goals and tied for 4th in assists. Brandt has been named All-WCC First Team the past two years, and like Aguilar he has been a key player for his squad since arriving in the West Coast Conference. However unlike Aguilar who spent his whole career with the Dons, Brandt spent one year at Cal State Dominguez Hills before joining the Toreros.

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Like Aguilar, Brandt benefited from the exposure of the MLS Player Combine. The two WCC players were part of an exclusive group of 55 to be invited to the event. He also has professional game experience from time with FC Tucson, a developmental team with close ties to MLS that often features notable NCAA players.

Brandt joins New York FC for their inaugural season. They are one of two new franchises debuting in MLS this season. Aguilar will be on the opposite end of the spectrum joining D.C. United, one of the ten founding members of MLS back in 1996.

MLS will complete their SuperDraft on January 20th when they hold their 3rd and 4th rounds via conference call. So there is still time for more WCC stars to be selected.

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