Thomas Brandt and Christian Barreiro, both seniors at Penn, were drafted by the Philadelphia Union and the New York Red Bulls, respectively. Brandt, a two-year captain of the Quakers, was twice named first-team All-Ivy while manning the central backfield for the Red and Blue. A two-time NSCAA All-Region selection, Brandt was a first-team All-Northeast honoree in 2010. Off the field, Brandt was just as dedicated and successful as he has twice been named Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area in addition to Capital One CoSIDA First-Team Academic All District (2011) and Academic All-Ivy (2010) honors. Earlier this fall, Brandt was named as a Lowe's Senior CLASS Award candidate and was a preseason Hermann Award Watch List player. Barreiro was twice named first-team All-Ivy in addition to a pair of NSCAA All-Region selections. An Academic All-Ivy choice in 2011, Barreiro was one of the most dynamic playmakers in the Ivy League over the past four years. With 71 appearances and 69 starts over his career, Barreiro utilized his playing time to amass 20 goals, 18 assists and 58 points. In 2011, he led the Quakers in goals (7), assists (7) and points (21), tying for the League lead in helpers for the second season in a row. An MLS Combine invitee, Barreiro spent this summer playing for the Reading United PDL club. Brandt and Barreiro are the first Penn player selected in the MLS Draft process since Alex Grendi was chosen by the Columbus Crew in the third round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. Other Penn products chosen by MLS teams over the years include a pair of goalkeepers - Matt Haefner C'04 (2004 - Columbus) and Dan Cepero (2007 - New York), both Elite 300 alumni as well. Cepero, chosen by the Red Bulls in '07, became the first goalkeeper in MLS history to score a goal and was the starting keeper when NYRB advanced to the MLS Cup final in 2008. |
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Elite 300 Alumni Tom Brandt and Christian Barreiro selected in MLS Draftposted Jan 23, 2012 8:24 AM by Rudy Fuller [ updated Jan 23, 2012 8:26 AM ] |