NEW YORK – For the seventh time in 10 years, the BIG EAST had two or more players drafted in the first round of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft presented by adidas. This year the BIG EAST had nine players selected over the course of the draft, with three in the first round.
The nine BIG EAST selections in the opening three rounds are the most since the start of the 2013 campaign.
A pair of Creighton Bluejays were selected in the first nine picks, with BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and MAC Herman Award Finalist Duncan McGuire selected sixth overall by Orlando City. Moments later, Owen O’Malley was picked ninth overall after St. Louis City SC traded up to acquire the midfielder. Rounding out the trio of BIG EAST first round selections, Inter Miami CF drafted Xavier goalkeeper Cole Jensen with the 18
th pick.
Former Hoya Stefan Stojanovic was also selected in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. The forward had departed the Hilltop at the end of the 2021 season for his professional career. He was selected with the 28th pick of the second round (57th overall) by the Philadelphia Union after spending the past season with the Philadelphia Union II.
With the second pick of the third round and 60th pick overall, DC United selected the 2022 BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year, Aidan Rocha of Georgetown. The midfielder was the first of five BIG EAST players drafted in the third round.
Picked 63
rd overall by Houston FC was UConn forward Frantz Pierrot, while Xavier defender Makel Rasheed was selected 65
th overall by Nashville SC.
Later in the third round, Butler’s Wilmer Cabrera, Jr., was acquired by Chicago FC with the 76
th pick, prior to Villanova forward Lyam MacKinnon selected 84
th overall by Nashville FC.
Since 2014, the BIG EAST has had 68 players selected in the MLS SuperDraft in addition to homegrown contracts signed. Of the 68, 25 have been first round picks.
The NCAA Leader in goals and points in 2022, McGuire led Creighton to the NCAA College Cup with a school-record 23 goals and closed the season with 50 points. A two-time National Player of the Week in 2022, McGuire scored at least one goal in seven consecutive matches from October 19 to November 13 and earned a spot on the 2022 NCAA Men's College Cup All-Tournament Team. The dominant season reached a new level in the postseason as McGuire scored ten goals and dished out two assists to help the Bluejays advance to the program's sixth College Cup with a seven-match winning streak.
O'Malley tallied eight goals and six assists to total 22 points this season. The North Carolina native finished third on the Bluejays in goals and second in assists. O’Malley amassed 1,614 total minutes during the 2022 season, helping Creighton return to his hometown of Cary to compete in the College Cup.
A United Soccer Coaches All-American, Jensen became the sixth Musketeer drafted in program history and the first since Cory Brown in 2018. The 2022 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year helped the Musketeers match the program's highest United Soccer Coaches Ranking this season (No. 9 on Oct. 18). He also helped the Musketeers match the program record for longest unbeaten streak to start a season (14 matches) and set the program record for fewest losses in a season (2).
BIG EAST Players in 2023 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas
Round (Overall) Player Team
1 (6) Duncan McGuire, Creighton, F Orlando City
1 (9) Owen O’Malley, Creighton, M St. Louis City SC
1 (17) Cole Jensen, Xavier, GK Inter Miami CF
2 (57) Stefan Stojanovic, Georgetown (2021) Philadelphia Union
3 (60) Aidan Rocha, Georgetown, M DC United
3 (63) Frantz Pierrot, UConn, F Houston FC
3 (65) Makel Rasheed, Xavier, D Nashville SC
3 (76) Wilmer Cabrera, Jr., Butler, F Chicago FC
3 (84) Lyam Mackinnon, Villanova, F Nashville SC