NEW YORK (January 19, 2007) - Kevin Burns (Greenfield, Ind.) of the University of Connecticut men’s soccer team was selected in the 2007 Major League Soccer (MLS) Supplemental Draft held Thursday night from the league’s offices. Burns, a four-year letterwinner at UConn, was taken by the Columbus Crew in the fourth round to become the program's 15th player to be drafted by an MLS team since the league’s inception in 1996.

Burns helped lead the Huskies to back-to-back BIG EAST Championships in 2004 and 2005 and four-straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament. He played in 65 games over the course of his career, starting in 36 at midfield. Burns finished his tenure with 16 points off four goals and eight assists.

The Crew also selected defender Ryan Junge (Creighton University), midfielder Tonci Skroce (Univ. of Illinois -Chicago)  and midfielder Ted Niziolek (Seton Hall).

"I am pleased to add such a diverse group," said Crew Head Coach Sigi Schmid following the draft. "Ryan Junge is a left-footed defender with pace, Skroce is a skilled attacking midfielder, Ted Niziolek is a versatile defender/midfielder with size and Kevin Burns is a skillful ball-control midfielder."

All players who were eligible for and not selected in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, held on Friday, Jan. 12, as well as additional players nominated by teams, were eligible for selection in the Supplemental Draft. The original order of the four-round MLS Supplemental Draft is determined from the reverse order of finish following the 2006 season.

 

UConn All-Time MLS Draft Picks

Year     Player                     Round             Pick        Team

1999     Bobby Rhine           1st              6th        Dallas

           Maurizio Rocha        Project-40                Miami

2001     Brent Rahim            4th             45th      Los Angeles

2002     Chris Gbandi           1st              1st        Dallas

           Sam Forko              3rd              30th      NY-NJ

           Mansour Ndiaye       1st              7th        NY-NJ

           Bryheem Hancock    2nd              22nd     Los Angeles

2003     Shavar Thomas       1st              10th      Dallas

           Damani Ralph          2nd              18th      Chicago

2004     Lindon Pecorelli       3rd              30th      San Jose

2005     Easton Wilson         4th              38th      New England

           Esteban Arias*        3rd              33rd      Chivas USA

2006     Mpho Moloi*           1st              7th        Houston

           Willis Forko*            2nd             14th      Salt Lake

2007     Kevin Burns            4th              50th      Columbus    

*Supplemental Draft picks