Chester, Pa. –
The Philadelphia Union selected two players in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, forward Dzenan
Catic from Davenport University with the No. 31 overall pick, and
midfielder Eric Bird from the University of Virginia with the No. 41
overall pick.
Both players won national championships
for their respective schools in 2014.
“When
Catic fell into our lap, we were shocked,” said head coach Jim Curtin.
“That part worked out very well. He’s a guy who brings some size; very
good in
front of the goal. Talking with a lot of the coaches at the combine,
they saw him as one of the top players – not just the top forwards.”
Catic,
22, played two years at NAIA-member Davenport University, located in
Caledonia Township, Mich. In 2014, he scored 39 goals and handed out 11
assists
to en route to being named the NAIA Player of the Year. Catic was the
driving force behind the team’s national championship. He also scored 24
goals and had three assists in his first season at Davenport in 2013.
He was born in Jablanica, Bosnia and moved
to Michigan with his family when he was eight years old.
Bird,
21, played four years for the University of Virginia. In 2014, he
scored five goals and had two assists in 19 games en route to being
named to the All-ACC
First Team. As a junior in 2013, he scored seven goals and had five
assists in 24 games and was named to NSCAA All-America Third Team. In
high school, Bird was the 2011 Virginia High School State Player of the
Year and won two state championships while at
Cox (Virginia Beach, Va.).
2015 MLS SuperDraft
Union selections
Secon round, No. 31 overall
Name: Dzenan Catic
College: Davenport University (Michigan)
Position: Forward
Height: 6-3
Weight: 185
Hometown: Jablanica, Bosnia
Second round, No. 41 overall
Name: Eric Bird
College: University of Virginia
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.The Union received one of those picks by loaning goalkeeper Zac MacMath, who appeared in 103 games for the Union, garnering a 34-39-29 record, to the Colorado Rapids.
Philadelphia Union’s schedule became official Wednesday as Major League Soccer released the 2015 season slates for all 20 clubs.
The Union opens their 2015 season on March 7 and thes schedule features home matches against 2014 Supporters Shield and U.S. Open Cup winners Seattle Sounders FC (June 24), MLS Cup finalist New England Revolution (April 19, Aug. 29) and Eastern Conference regular season champion D.C. United (May 17).
Philadelphia also welcomes MLS newcomer New York City FC to PPL Park twice (April 11, June 6), in addition to closing the season at home against fellow newcomer Orlando City SC (Oct. 25).
The Union’s complete 2015 League schedule is listed below:
DATE OPPONENT
Saturday, March 7 Colorado Rapids
Saturday, March 14 at Real Salt Lake
Friday, March 20 FC Dallas
Sunday, March 29 at Chicago Fire
Sunday, April 5 at Sporting Kansas City
Saturday, April 11 New York City FC
Thursday, April 16 at New York City FC
Sunday, April 19 New England Revolution
Saturday, April 25 at Columbus Crew SC
Saturday, May 2 Toronto FC
Saturday, May 9 at Vancouver Whitecaps
Sunday, May 17 D.C. United
Sunday, May 24 at New York Red Bulls
Saturday, May 30 at D.C. United
Wednesday, June 3 Columbus Crew SC
Saturday, June 6 New York City FC
Saturday, June 20 at LA Galaxy
Wednesday, June 24 Seattle Sounders FC
Saturday, June 27 Montreal Impact
Saturday, July 11 Portland Timbers
Saturday, July 18 at Toronto FC
Sunday, July 26 at D.C. United
Saturday, Aug. 1 New York Red Bills
Saturday, Aug. 8 at Orlando City SC
Sunday, Aug. 16 Chicago Fire
Saturday, Aug. 22 at Montreal Impact
Saturday, Aug. 29 New England Revolution
Wednesday, Sept. 5 at San Jose Earthquakes
Saturday, Sept. 12 Columbus Crew SC
Sunday, Sept. 20 Houston Dynamo
Saturday, Sept. 26 at New England Revolution
Saturday, Oct. 3 at Toronto FC
Saturday, Oct. 18 at New York Red Bulls
Sunday, Oct. 25 Orlando City SC
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