Boston College Athletics
Singer, Schmidt Taken In MLS SuperDraft
January 17, 2003 | Men's Soccer
Jan. 17, 2003
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Fifth-year goalkeeper Kyle Singer (Plymouth, Minn./Univ. of Virginia) and senior forward Casey Schmidt (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park) were picked today in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft. They are just the second and third players in Boston College history to be selected by the MLS, respectively.
Singer, who participated in the adidas MLS Player Combine in Sunrise, Fla., from Jan. 12-14, was taken by the New England Revolution with the 29th pick in the third round. Two rounds later, Schmidt was snatched up by the Colorado Rapids with the 48th selection.
"It's great for those guys to get that opportunity," head coach Ed Kelly said. "I'm extremely happy for Kyle and Casey, and I hope it works out for them."
The 2002 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, Singer set a program record this past season for wins by a goalie with 17. He posted four shutouts - all in conference play - a 1.32 goals against average and a .793 save percentage. Singer, an NSCAA All-New England First Team selection, transferred to BC from the University of Virginia prior to this season.
"I'm unbelievably ecstatic," Singer said. "I couldn't have asked for things to work out any better than they did. I'm right where I want to be."
Schmidt led the team this year in goals (11), game-winning goals (six) and points (28). The Eagles' all-time leading goal-scorer, with 35, Schmidt finished his historic career with 82 points, one behind the school's leader in that category, Paul Keegan. He was named to the All-BIG EAST and NSCAA All-New England teams three times each. Following his sophomore year, he received BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Schmidt recently worked out with the reigning MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy, so being chosen by Colorado came as a bit of a surprise to him.
"I'm in disbelief," Schmidt said. "I was waiting for four hours for my name to come up. I feel like I have a good chance to make the roster. It's a great situation for me."
Prior to Singer and Schmidt, Keegan was the only Boston College player picked in the MLS draft. He was taken sixth overall by the Revolution in 1996.
The BIG EAST was well represented in this year's draft, as six players from the conference were picked. Besides the Eagles' duo, Connecticut's Shavar Thomas (10th, Dallas) and Damani Ralph (18th, Chicago), Seton Hall's Phil Swenda (26th, Chicago) and Rutgers' Guy Abrahamson (47th, Columbus) were drafted.
