VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC selected three players in the final two rounds of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft on Tuesday, including a pair of University of Washington midfielders in James Moberg (50th overall) and Josh Heard from Victoria, BC (71st overall). The club also drafted defender Tyler David (77th overall) with their final pick.
Last Thursday, Whitecaps FC selected centre back Cole Seiler in the first round (16th overall) and strikers Christopher Hellmann (29th overall) and Thomas Sanner (36th overall) in the second round of the SuperDraft.
Whitecaps FC currently have 24 players on their MLS roster. Seiler, Hellmann, and Sanner will be joining the first team for the start of preseason camp this Friday, January 22, before a week of on-field training in Vancouver from Monday, January 25 through Friday, January 29. The team travels to Tucson, Arizona, on Sunday, January 31, and will be back in Vancouver on Wednesday, February 10.
Moberg, Heard, and David will be reporting for the Whitecaps FC 2 camp on Monday, February 1.
WHITECAPS FC 2016 MLS SUPERDRAFT PICKS
<strong>Pick</strong> |
<strong>Round</strong> |
<strong>How Acquired</strong> |
<strong>Selection</strong> |
<p>16th</p> |
<p>First</p> |
<p>Natural</p> |
<u><a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2016/01/14/whitecaps-fc-select-defender-cole-seiler" target="_blank">Cole Seiler</a></u> |
<p>29th</p> |
<p>Second</p> |
<p>From Toronto FC <u><a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2015/12/11/whitecaps-fc-trade-beitashour-tfc">in a trade for Steven Beitashour (2015.12.18)</a></u></p> |
<u><a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2016/01/14/whitecaps-fc-select-striker-christopher-hellmann" target="_blank">Christopher Hellmann</a></u> |
<p>36th</p> |
<p>Second</p> |
<p>Natural</p> |
<u><a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2016/01/14/whitecaps-fc-select-striker-thomas-sanner-36th-overall-pick-2016-mls-superdraft" target="_blank">Thomas Sanner</a></u> |
<p>50th</p> |
<p>Third</p> |
<p>From Toronto FC <u><a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2013/02/28/wfc-acquire-third-round-pick-2016-earnshaw">in a trade for the discovery rights of Robert Earnshaw (2013.02.28)</a></u></p> |
<p>James Moberg</p> |
<p>71st</p> |
<p>Fourth</p> |
<p>From New England Revolution <u><a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2014/02/26/whitecaps-fc-deal-daigo-kobayashis-mls-rights-new-england-revolution">in a trade for Daigo Kobayashi (2014.02.26)</a></u></p> |
<p>Josh Heard</p> |
<p>77th</p> |
<p>Fourth</p> |
<p>Natural</p> |
<p>Tyler David</p> |
MIDFIELDER JAMES MOBERG
Moberg, 21, joins Whitecaps FC after four seasons with the University of Washington Huskies of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Pacific-12 Conference. The 6-foot-2 midfielder appeared in 69 matches with the Huskies, totalling 10 goals and 21 assists. In his senior year, Moberg scored three goals, all game-winners, before his final season was cut short after six games due to a knee injury.
Last August, the native of Modesto, California participated in the United States Under-23 College Identification camp in Carson, California.
Moberg also previously played for the Portland Timbers U-23 side, scoring one goal in his six appearances in the 2015 United Soccer League's Premier Development League (USL PDL) season.
MIDFIELDER JOSH HEARD
Heard, 21, played four years at the University of Washington. The native of Victoria, BC started 50 of his 74 appearances, while scoring 13 goals and recording eight assists. As a junior in 2014, Heard scored a career high seven goals and was voted the Pac-12 Men's Soccer Player of the Week on September 29.
Heard also spent two seasons playing in the USL PDL with his hometown Victoria Highlanders FC, scoring three goals and recording one assist in his 18 appearances with the club.
In his high school days, Heard attended Reynolds Secondary School and was named both the school's Player of the Year and U-20 Player of the Year during his tenure.
DEFENDER TYLER DAVID
David, 21, finishes his four-year collegiate career with St. Louis University Billikens of the NCAA's Atlantic 10 Conference, starting 76 of his 78 appearances while scoring three goals. The 6-foot-2 defender was named to the All-Conference First Team following his senior season, after earning Second Team selections in his sophomore and junior years. The Lakeville, Minnesota native played a key role in the Billikens' defence that led the A-10 in shutouts in 2014 and 2015.
Prior to university, David was the five-year captain of the Minnesota Thunder US Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) side. David's father, Steve, played for the Trinidad and Tobago national team and won the North American Soccer League's Most Valuable Player award in 1975 as a member of the Miami Toros.
James Moberg
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-02
Weight: 185 pounds
Date of Birth: April 16, 1994 in Modesto, California
Hometown: Windsor, California
Citizenship: United States
Status: Domestic, Unsigned
Last Club: University of Washington
How Acquired: Selected 50th overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC
Josh Heard
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-09
Weight: 165 pounds
Date of Birth: November 29, 1994 in Cardiff, Wales
Hometown: Victoria, BC
Citizenship: Canada, Wales
Status: Domestic, Unsigned
Last Club: University of Washington
How Acquired: Selected 71st overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC
Tyler David
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Height: 6-02
Weight: 185 pounds
Date of Birth: March 1, 1994 in Lakeville, Minnesota
Hometown: Lakeville, Minnesota
Citizenship: United States
Status: Domestic, Unsigned
Last Club: Saint Louis University
How Acquired: Selected 77th overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC
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