Miami Fusion selects Leo Cullen as first overall pick in MLS College Draft

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Saturday, January 31, 1998) – The Miami Fusion solidified its roster with the addition of defender Leo Cullen from the University of Maryland as the first overall pick in today’s 1998 MLS College Draft. Cullen was a 1997 NSCAA/UMBRO first-team All-America and the 1997 ACC Player of the Year

"He really impressed us this week with his play against professional players," Miami Head Coach Carlos "Cacho" Cordoba said, referring to Cullen’s performance at the MLS Player Combine in South Florida. "He is the type of defender who will fit in well with our possession style of play. His solid ball skills and maturity against pro players this week showed us that he was the player we needed."

The Chicago Fire selected George Mason defender Rich Kotschau with the second pick in the college draft while University of North Carolina-Charlotte defender Ben Parry was chosen third by San Jose.

"Rich is a solid left-footed defender who has good speed and is strong in the air," said Chicago Head Coach Bob Bradley. "I’ve known him since his days growing up in Eastern New York and the Region I Olympic Developmental Program. He’s a player with great potential who will grow with us."

"We felt Parry was the best college player on the field this week," San Jose Head Coach Brian Quinn said. "He came highly recommended to us by a close friend who is a former professional player. Parry’s a brave player who is very athletic and plays hard. His acquisition is another step towards rebuilding our defense."

Today’s first round of the 1998 Major League Soccer College Draft featured 12 selections. Due to a prior trade, D.C. United was the only team without a pick during the first round. The first round of the 1998 MLS College Draft follows:

* The MetroStars acquired the #8 pick overall by trading defender Brian Bliss to Kansas City, who originally held the pick.

MLS FIRST ROUND SELECTION PLAYER BIOS

Leo Cullen (Miami Fusion)
Defender, Maryland
5-10, 184
Hometown: Burnsville, MD

1997 ACC Player of the Year ... 1997 Soccer America Best 11 … Represented the United States in the 1997 World University Games in Italy ... a 1997 NSCAA/UMBRO First Team All-America Selection … a third-place finisher in the 1996 Missouri Athletic Club award balloting ... one of four finalists for the Hermann Trophy in 1996 ... earned three consecutive First Team All-ACC honors ... a member of the Soccer America All-Freshman team in 1994 … Parade Magazine High School Player of the Year in 1993 ... a member of the U.S. Under-20 and Under-21 National Teams ... the 1993 Minnesota High School Player of the Year.

Rich Kotschau (Chicago Fire)
Defender, George Mason
5-10, 168
Hometown: Levittown, New York

Spent summer of 1997 with U-23 U.S. National Team at the World University Games in Italy … One of the last cuts for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team … Left-sided defender has good speed and is solid in the air … All-Colonial Athletic Association First-Team as both a sophomore and a senior.

Ben Parry (San Jose Clash)
Defender, University of North Carolina-Charlotte
6-1, 190
Hometown: Albemarle, NC

A 1997 NSCAA/UMBRO Second Team All-America, Parry is a tenacious defender who started 82 of the 83 games during his collegiate career … Was the defensive leader for the 49’ers, allowing and average of just 1.12 goals per game during his four years at UNC-Charlotte … Scored eight goals and tallied eight assists … A co-captain during his junior and senior seasons … Played for the USISL’s Cocoa Beach Expos in 1997 as an amateur player.

Chris Klein (Kansas City Wizards)
Midfielder, Indiana
6-1, 180
Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Johnny Torres (New England Revolution)
Midfielder, Creighton
5-8, 140
Hometown: Dickinson, TX

The Hermann Trophy winner and a Missouri Athletic Club National Player of the Year winner, Torres was the Missouri Valley Conference "Player of the Year" after finishing his career as the league's all-time scoring and assists leader ... Earned his second straight MVC scoring championship with 39 points on 13 goals and a league-best 13 assists ... Born in Medellin, Colombia ... This past summer, Torres led the U.S. to a bronze medal at the World University Games as the team's top goal scorer with five goals ... The medal marked the best-ever finish by a U.S. men's team in a world championship outdoor event.

Clint Mathis (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Midfielder, South Carolina
5-10, 170
Hometown: Conyers, GA

Josh Keller (Tampa Bay Mutiny)
Midfielder, UCLA
5-10, 145
Hometown: Laguna Niguel, CA

Member of the 1997 NCAA Final Four All Tournament team …Scored 16 goals and 13 assists during his college career …Played 61 games, starting 48 for the Bruins … All-MPSF in 1997 … 1994 All-Far West academic selection … Coach Schmid says, "He is our most versatile player, and has a knack for scoring goals." … In 1994, played every position for the Bruins except goalkeeper … Played with the U.S. Under-21 National Team in 1995.

Michael Petke (MetroStars)
Defender, Southern Connecticut State
6-2, 185
Hometown: Bohemia, NY

Jeff Cunningham (Columbus Crew)
Forward, South Florida
5-8 155 Hometown: Tampa, FL

The two-time NSCAA/UMBRO All-American started 60 of the 62 games in which he played at South Florida … Scored 41 goals and added 36 assists for 118 points in his career … Selected as a member of the NSCAA/UMBRO third-team All-America … Led Conference USA in scoring in 1997, with 13 goals and 11 assists for 37 points … Born in Kingston, Jamaica.

Matt Jordan (Dallas Burn)
Goalkeeper, Clemson
6-2, 185
Hometown: Aurora, CO

Started every game of his college career, a streak of 80 straight starts ... Tallied 311 saves in his career with the Tigers (#2 all-time), allowing 90 goals and tabulating a goals against average of 1.14 … participated in 1997 World University games...played and started in 17 games as a junior for Clemson for a total of 1581 minutes despite having a broken bone in his left wrist ... Member of the U-18 and U-20 National Teams ... 1994 Parade All-American ... 1994 NSCAA/UMBRO All-America ... Colorado High School Player-of-the-Year in 1994.

Tyrone Marshall (Colorado Rapids)
Forward, Florida International
6-2, 190
Hometown: Coral Springs, FL

Scored famous bicycle kick in 1996 NCAA Tournament … Tallied 22 goals and added 14 assists in his 42-game college career with Florida International, after transferring from NAIA William Carey College …Was a two-time NAIA first-team All-American selection … Was named Most Valuable Player of the 1995 NAIA national tournament.

Wade Barrett (San Jose Clash)
Midfielder/Forward, William and Mary
5-8, 162
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA

A 1997 NSCAA/UMBRO first team All-America, Barrett scored 38 goals during his four years at William in Mary … Also tallied 26 assists with the Tribe … Started 84 of 89 games during his college career … Barrett was the 1997 Colonial Athletic Conference Player of the Year … Has been a member of the U.S. Under-21, U-20 and U-18 National Teams.