Jan. 17, 2013
Finley MLS SuperDraft Interview
Powers MLS SuperDraft Interview
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame’s Ryan Finley (F) and Dillon Powers (M) were selected in the first round of Thursday’s 2013 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft. Finley went to the Columbus Crew with the ninth overall selection, while the Colorado Rapids took Powers two picks later.
This is the first time Notre Dame has had two first-round picks in the same MLS SuperDraft.
Notre Dame has produced 14 MLS SuperDraft picks since 2008. Those are the most from any school during that time span. Maryland and Wake Forest are second with 13 selections each. The Fighting Irish have had 21 MLS SuperDraft picks during the 12-year tenure of head coach Bobby Clark.
“We’re making it a nice habit of getting players drafted every year,” said Clark. “To have two players drafted in the top 11 is a tremendous compliment to both Ryan and Dillon, but also to the Notre Dame program. We are thrilled for both of them and wish them success in their professional careers. Another nice thing is that they’ve already graduated.”
Finley (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley/Duke) played in all 22 matches this season and ranked second nationally in goals (21) and points (46) en route to earning first team All-America honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). He also was named a first team Soccer America MVP and was the runner-up for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is the highest individual award in intercollegiate soccer.
He led the BIG EAST with 12 goals in league play and was tapped as the 2012 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year. Finley had six game-winning goals, including two golden goals. He scored the golden goal in the title game of the BIG EAST Championship, a 3-2 double-overtime victory over Georgetown. Finley had six multiple-goal games, including one hat trick. His 21 goals rank fifth in Notre Dame history for a single season.
Finley tallied 126 points on 56 goals and 14 assists in 78 career matches at both Duke and Notre Dame. He was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year in addition to copping third team All-America honors during his sophomore season at Duke.
“I’m very happy for Ryan,” Clark said. “I don’t think I’ve had any player who has worked harder at his game to become a professional soccer player. He’s always doing extra work. He’s always out with a bag of balls. I’ve never had a forward who has ran off the shoulder of the last defender better than Ryan Finley. I’m very happy for him and I wish him nothing but the very best with the Columbus Crew.”
Dillon Powers went 11th overall to the Colorado Rapids.
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Powers (Plano, Texas/Plano Senior) received first team All-America accolades from the NSCAA this season in addition to being a second team Soccer America MVP. He started all 22 matches in the central midfield and posted career-high totals in goals (5), assists (9) and points (19). Powers tallied three game-winning goals and played 2,011 of a possible 2,044 minutes on the field this season.
Powers was one of 15 semifinalists for the 2012 MAC Hermann Trophy. He earned first team all-BIG EAST honors this season and was a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award. Powers also was selected to the NSCAA Scholar All-America First Team. He was on the NSCAA Scholar All-America Second Team during his junior season.
The two-time team captain played in 78 matches, including 64 starts, during his Notre Dame career. Powers registered 42 points on 10 goals and 22 assists in a Fighting Irish uniform. He was a three-time all-BIG EAST pick.
“Dillon has been a fantastic four-year player here at Notre Dame,” Clark said. “He’s been a two-year captain and a fantastic student. He really has done it all. We are obviously sad to see him go, but I think he can be a great fit in Colorado and I think he’ll do very well.”
Finley and Powers helped Notre Dame post a 17-4-1 record this season. The 17 wins were the most for the Irish since 1988. The Fighting Irish won the program’s third BIG EAST Championship title and were the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Championship for the first time ever. Notre Dame fell to eventual national champion Indiana, 2-1 in double-overtime, in the third round of the tournament.
The New England Revolution selected Louisville’s Andrew Farrell with the first overall selection in Thursday’s draft, which consisted of two rounds and 38 total picks.
Notre Dame All-Time MLS Draft Selections
2013 SuperDraft
Ryan Finley (F)
Columbus Crew – First Round – 9th overall selection
Dillon Powers (M)
Colorado Rapids – First Round – 11th overall selection
2012 Supplemental Draft
Greg Klazura (D)
Vancouver Whitecaps – Second Round – 21st overall selection
2012 SuperDraft
Aaron Maund (D)
Toronto FC – First Round – 12th overall selection
Brendan King (M)
Portland Timbers -Second Round – 27th overall selection
2011 Supplemental Draft
Philip Tuttle (G)
San Jose Earthquakes – Second Round – 33rd overall selection
2011 SuperDraft
Jeb Brovsky (F/M)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Second Round – 19th overall selection
Bilal Duckett (D)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC -Third Round – 37th overall selection
Steven Perry (F)
New England Revolution -Third Round – 39th overall selection
2010 SuperDraft
Bright Dike (F)
Columbus Crew – First Round – 12th overall selection
Michael Thomas (M)
San Jose Earthquakes – Second Round – 19th overall selection
Justin Morrow (D)
San Jose Earthquakes – Second Round – 28th overall selection
2009 SuperDraft
Matt Besler (D)
Kansas City Wizards – First Round – 8th overall selection
Jack Traynor (D)
New York Red Bulls – Second Round – 29th overall selection
2008 SuperDraft
Ryan Miller (D)v Columbus Crew – Third Round – 31st overall selection
Joseph Lapira (F)
Toronto FC – Third Round – 35th overall selection
2007 SuperDraft
Greg Dalby (M)
Colorado Rapids – Second Round – 17th overall selection
Nate Norman (M)
Chicago Fire – Second Round – 21st overall selection
2005 SuperDraft
Jack Stewart (D)
Chicago Fire – First Round – 10th overall selection
Kevin Goldthwaite (M/D)
San Jose Earthquake – Second Round – 17th overall selection
Chris Sawyer (G)
Kansas City Wizards – Second Round – 24th overall selection
2004 SuperDraft
Kevin Richards (D)
Colorado Rapids – Fourth Round – 35th overall selection
Justin Detter (M/F)
Kansas City Wizards – Fifth Round – 47th overall selection
1999 Supplemental Draft
Ryan Turner (F)
Kansas City – Second Round – 14th overall selection
1997 Supplemental Draft
Dan Stebbins (F)
Dallas – First Round – 4th overall selection
— ND —