Union take four in MLS Supplemental Draft

Chester, Pa. - The Philadelphia Union selected four players in the 2012 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft on Tuesday: defender Thomas Brandt (13th overall), midfielder Krystian Witkowski (26th overall), forward Antoine Hoppenot (39th overall), and midfielder Brandon Zimmerman (52nd overall).

Brandt, 21, served as captain for the University of Pennsylvania in both 2010 and 2011. A two-time NSCAA All-Region selection, Brandt was a first-team All-Northeast honoree in 2010. The FC DELCO product played with the Reading Rage (now Union affiliate Reading United AC) in 2005. Brandt was included on the preseason MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List after earning first-team All-Ivy honors as a junior in 2010. The Palmyra, Pa. native earned first-team All-Ivy honors again as a senior. Brandt scored five goals as both a junior and senior, including a goal on each of his five shots on goal in 2011. Over his four collegiate seasons, Brandt appeared in 56 matches with 52 starts, scoring 11 goals. The defender, who was named to the 2008 U.S. Soccer Development Academy's Mid-Atlantic Conference team, netted a hat trick in the final game of his college career.

Witkowski, 21, collected three consecutive All-MAAC First Team awards at Marist College. In 2011, the central attacking midfielder was named to the All-North Atlantic Region second team. In 71 collegiate games, Witkowski registered 21 goals and 12 assists, including nine goals and six assists as a junior. Prior to playing for Marist, Witkowski featured for the U-18 Polish national team.

Hoppenot, 21, was named First-Team All-Ivy three consecutive years, as well as Ivy League Player of the Year and second-team All-American as a junior in 2010. As a junior, Hoppenot scored nine goals and added five assists en route to being named a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy. Heading into 2011, Hoppenot ranked 20th on the Top Drawer Soccer men's National Top 100 list. Born in Paris, France and raised in Princeton, N.J., Hoppenot tallied 26 goals and 15 assists in his college career.

Zimmerman, 21, is a four-time All-WCC midfielder, including All-WCC First Team as a senior. Zimmerman anchored the Bronco midfield in 2011, scoring three goals and adding two assists in 18 games. In his four-year college career, Zimmerman registered 28 points in 68 appearances. Zimmerman joined U.S. Soccer's Residency Program in August 2005, featuring for both the U-15 and U-17 national teams.