KANSAS CITY – The New England Revolution selected two players in today’s 2012 MLS SuperDraft, highlighted by U.S. Soccer Under-23 and UCLA midfielder Kelyn Rowe, chosen third overall. In the second round, the Revolution added Tyler Polak, a left back from Creighton University, with the 22nd overall pick. Both players recently completed their sophomore seasons at their collegiate programs.
Both players signed Generation adidas contracts with the league prior to the SuperDraft and have been automatically added to New England’s roster.
“We’re happy with our selections today,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said. “To have two picks in the top 22, and to be able to sign two Generation adidas players that can join our roster immediately – we feel that it will be beneficial to both us and the players.”
Rowe, 20, the 2011 Pac-12 Player of the Year as a sophomore, is a two-time All-American and has earned back-to-back all-conference honors. In 2010, he was also the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. He scored six goals and added a conference-leading 10 assists in 2011, finishing his UCLA career with a total of 46 points in 46 games. Rowe was also ranked eighth in assists in NCAA Division I. After making six appearances with the U.S. U-20 National Team, the Federal Way, Wash., product recently earned a call-up to U.S. U23 (Olympic) National Team camp as the squad prepares for the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Polak, 19, is a two-time NSCAA All-Midwest honoree, earning the distinction as both a freshman and sophomore, and started each of his 44 total games played at Creighton. He led the Bluejay defense as it set numerous defensive records, and led the NCAA in shutout percentage and goals against average while allowing only five goals and 2.8 shots on goal per game this season. During his Creighton career, the Lincoln, Neb., native scored three goals and added six assists. Polak has been a member of the U.S. National Team pool at the U14, U17, U18 and U20 levels. After playing every minute during CONCACAF U17 World Cup qualifying, he continued to play every minute for the U.S. during the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria.
Rowe is expected to report to the Revolution’s training camp later in January, following his training commitment to the U.S. Under-23 squad, which is currently in camp in Southern California. Polak is expected to join the Revs on Monday, Jan. 16, when they open camp at Gillette Stadium.
For up-to-the-minute information on the Revolution, visit the team’s official web site at revolutionsoccer.net, or follow the team on Twitter at @NERevolution, or on Facebook at facebook.com/NERevolution.
Four- and six-game mini-game plans are on sale now and start at $84 for Category 3 tickets. Season tickets for the 2012 New England Revolution season are also on sale and start at $252 for 18-game packages. Call 1-877-GET-REVS or visit revolutionsoccer.net for more information about these plans or any other ticket option.
Transaction: New England Revolution (MLS) – Drafted M Kelyn Rowe and D Tyler Polak
