The Louisville defender was the first name off the board during Thursday's event, in which a series trades shook up the initial order as MLS teams moved for their top targets.
INDIANAPOLIS -- That Louisville defender Andrew Farrell wound up being the first overall selection in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft was not a major surprise by any stretch. His eventual destination, however, was one of a number curveballs in the build-up to Thursday's event at the Indiana Convention Center.After trading with Toronto FC to acquire the first pick on Wednesday evening, the New England Revolution made Farrell the top choice Thursday, adding the player who has been the consensus top player on draft boards for the last few weeks.
The Generation adidas signing won over coaches and scouts with his ability in the air, and the right-footed defender can fit in at right back or center back for the Revolution, a team in need of defensive reinforcements.
The trade of the No. 1 pick came on the heels of the Colorado Rapids acquiring the Chicago Fire's No. 11 overall pick as part of a trade for veteran midfielder Jeff Larentowicz. The Portland Timbers, who did not initially have a pick in the draft, traded into the second round, acquiring one of San Jose's picks in exchange for forward Michael Fucito.
Chivas USA made good on its promise to select Connecticut playmaker Carlos Alvarez at No. 2 overall. With the first of its two early first-round picks, Toronto FC took Boston College midfielder and Canadian Kyle Bekker, who was a standout performer at the MLS Combine. With its second pick, though, Toronto shipped it to Vancouver in exchange for the 10th overall pick and allocation money, and the Whitecaps used it to take promising young forward Kekuta Manneh.
Toronto continued to deal, sending the pick it acquired from Vancouver to Seattle in exchange for the 16th overall pick and even more allocation money. Seattle used the 10th spot to pick Indiana product Eriq Zavaleta, who is an impact forward but is also seen as a potential star at center back by some talent evaluators. Toronto wound up with another Canadian, Oregon State forward Emery Welshman, when it finally made its second choice.
The LA Galaxy made it book-end selections for Louisville, selecting defender Greg Cochrane with the final pick of the draft. The two-time defending champions also added Boston College forward Charlie Rugg and Michigan defender Kofi Opare. All unselected players will be available in next week's four-round MLS Supplemental Draft.
2013 MLS SuperDraft
ROUND 1
1. New England Revolution - Andrew Farrell, D, Louisville
2. Chivas USA - Carlos Alvarez, M, Connecticut
3. Toronto FC - Kyle Bekker, M, Boston College
4. Vancouver Whitecaps - Kekuta Manneh, F, Austin Aztex (PDL)
5. Vancouver Whitecaps - Erik Hurtado, F, Santa Clara
6. Colorado Rapids - Deshorn Brown, F, Central Florida
7. FC Dallas - Walker Zimmerman, D, Furman
8. Montreal Impact - Blake Smith, M, New Mexico
9. Columbus Crew - Ryan Finley, F, Notre Dame
10. Seattle Sounders - Eriq Zavaleta, F/D, Indiana
11. Colorado Rapids - Dillon Powers, M, Notre Dame
12. Real Salt Lake - John Stertzer, M, Maryland
13. Houston Dynamo - Jason Johnson, F, Virginia Commonwealth
14. Sporting Kansas City - Mikey Lopez, M, North Carolina
15. San Jose Earthquakes - Tommy Muller, D, Georgetown
16. Toronto FC - Emery Welshman, F, Oregon State
17. D.C. United - Taylor Kemp, D, Maryland
18. Montreal Impact - Fernando Monge, M, UCLA
19. LA Galaxy - Charlie Rugg, F, Boston College
ROUND 2
20. FC Dallas - Ryan Hollingshead, M, UCLA
21. New England Revolution - Donnie Smith, M, Charlotte
22. New York Red Bulls - Ian Christianson, M, Georgetown
23. New England Revolution - Luke Spencer, F, Xavier
24. LA Galaxy - Kofi Opare, D, Michigan
25. Colorado Rapids - Kory Kindle, D, Cal-State Bakersfield
26. Philadelphia Union - Don Anding, F, Northeastern
27. Montreal Impact - Paolo DelPiccolo, M, Louisville
28. Columbus Crew - Drew Beckie, D, Denver
29. Real Salt Lake - Devon Sandoval, F, New Mexico
30. Chicago Fire - Yazid Atouba Emane, M, Rainbow FC (Cameroon)
31. Philadelphia Union - Stephen Okai, M, Mobile
32. Montreal Impact - Brad Stuver, GK, Cleveland State
33. San Jose Earthquakes - Dan Delgado, M, San Diego
34. Portland Timbers - Dylan Tucker-Gangnes, D, Washington
35. Seattle Sounders - Dylan Remick, D, Brown
36. New England Revolution - Luis Soffner, GK, Indiana
37. Houston Dynamo - Jimmy Nealis, D, Georgetown
38. LA Galaxy - Greg Cochrane, D, Louisville
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