AP Photo 3 months ago USA's Ike Opara, left, USA's Brek Shea, center, South Korea's Yun Suk Young, right, go for a high ball during their U-20 World Cup group C soccer match at Suez Mubarak Stadium in Suez, Egypt, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009.

Earthquakes Make Five Selections in 2010 MLS SuperDraft

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes selected five players in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft today, including Generation adidas and Wake Forest All-American defender Ike Opara with the third overall pick. The Quakes also selected Notre Dame University teammates Michael Thomas and Justin Morrow with their first two selections of the second round, before picking up San Jose native and Leland High School graduate Steve Beitashour with their final pick of the second round. The Quakes took William & Mary forward Andrew Hoxie with their final pick.

“Our goal coming into this draft was to add depth all over the field and I think we accomplished that,” said general manager of soccer operations John Doyle. “With Ike, we got a great defender who has a great future, and we also selected a lot of versatile players with our other picks that fill a lot of needs. We are excited to get this group into camp and see how they fare against MLS competition.”

 

Opara played eight matches for the United States U-20 team in 2009 and was a key member of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup team. He started all three games for the U.S. in Egypt last fall. The Durham, N.C. native helped lead the Demon Deacons to the College Cup last season as junior before falling in overtime to eventual champion Virginia. He appeared in 17 games, scoring three goals and notching two assists. The 20-year-old defender earned All-American honors from the NSCAA, Soccer America, College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer and was named a semifinalist for the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy, which is given to college soccer’s best player. He was also selected as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season and earned All-ACC first team accolades.

 

 

“We had a very good draft today,” said head coach Frank Yallop. “We added a number of young, talented players that will fight for spots on the team once training camp begins. I am looking forward to a lot of competition for positions this preseason with the depth that we now have on the team.”

 

As a sophomore, he was named a finalist for the Soccer News Net College Player of the Year and was selected as a First Team All-American by Top Drawer Soccer and College Soccer News. He also earned NSCAA and Soccer America Second Team All-American honors, while earning a spot on the All-ACC First Team. In his freshman year, he was named to Soccer America’s First Team and the All-Freshman squad and was selected to the All-ACC Freshman Team.

 

“I am happy to be selected by San Jose,” said Opara. “First and foremost I’m going to bring a good attitude to the team. I look forward to hopefully building a special franchise and helping this team get to the MLS Cup sometime in the near future.”

 

The 6’2” defender played in 65 games in his three year career with Wake Forest, scoring eight goals. Opara helped the team to the regular season ACC championship and anchored a defense that held opposing offenses down all season long in 2009. He was a part of three teams that made the College Cup and helped the Demon Deacons win the national championship as a freshman in 2007.

 

With their first pick in the second round, San Jose selected Kansas City native and University of Notre Dame midfielder Michael Thomas. Thomas, a two-way central midfielder, appeared in 83 career games for the Fighting Irish and scored 19 goals and notched 13 assists, including six goals and six assists as a senior. A two-year team captain Thomas was a two-time All-Big East selection and was twice named to the All-Great Lakes Region squad. He helped lead Notre Dame to four appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including two appearances in the quarterfinals. He was an Academic All-American in 2009.

 

“When I heard my name called, I just felt pure excitement,” said Thomas. “It was great to hear my name called and have my family be a part of it. I can’t wait to get out to California. I’ve never been there before, but I am happy to be a part of the San Jose Earthquakes.”

 

Morrow had an outstanding combine prior to the draft after an excellent career with Notre Dame. He played 89 matches and scored seven goals and notched seven assists as a wide midfielder and defender. He was named All-Big East Second Team in 2009 after starting all 23 games and notching two goals and an assist, while serving as team captain. He helped the Fighting Irish to four NCAA appearances in his career.

 

“I am thrilled to join San Jose,” said Morrow. “It is a great city and I am looking forward to working with the coaching staff there. I am happy to join Michael (Thomas) and I can’t wait to get started with preseason.”

 

Beitashour returns to his hometown team after completing his career with San Diego State University. The 5-10 defender appeared in 61 career games for the Aztecs and recorded eight assists. A versatile player, he can play wide right and left in both the defense and midfield. Beitashour was a four-year letterwinner for Leland High School in San Jose, where he won the Pat Tillman Award.

 

With their only third round pick, the Quakes selected Hoxie, who scored 35 goals in his career for William & Mary. He scored 10 goals three times in his collegiate career and capped his career by being named the 2009 CAA Player of the Year and a NSCAA Third Team All-American. He played 72 career games and also notched 22 assists.

 

Ike Opara – Third Overall Selection (First Round)

Status: Generation adidas

Position: Defender

Height: 6-2

Weight: 180

Born: February 21, 1989

Hometown: Durham, N.C.

College: Wake Forest

Citizenship: USA

 

Michael Thomas – 19th Overall Selection (Second Round)

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-10

Weight: 190

Born: March 8, 1989

Hometown: Olathe, Kan.

College: Notre Dame

Citizenship: USA

 

Justin Morrow – 28th Overall Selection (Second Round)

Position: Defender/Midfielder

Height: 5-9

Weight: 165

Born: October 4, 1987

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

College: Notre Dame

Citizenship: USA

 

Steve Beitashour – 30th Overall Selection (Second Round)

Position: Defender

Height: 5-10

Weight: 170

Born: February 1, 1987

Hometown: San Jose, Calif.

College: San Diego State

Citizenship: USA

 

Andrew Hoxie – 37th Overall Selection (Third Round)

Position: Forward

Height: 6-4

Weight: 188

Born: October 8, 1986

Hometown: Newport News, Va.

College: William & Mary

Citizenship: USA

 

Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS): Earthquakes select D Ike Opara in the first round (3rd Overall), M Michael Thomas in the second round (19th overall), D Justin Morrow in the second round (28th Overall), D Steve Beitashour (30th Overall) and F Andrew Hoxie in the third round (37th Overall).