Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Lucas Stauffer and Ricky Lopez-Espin Drafted During Second Round of 2018 MLS SuperDraft
1/19/2018 2:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Stauffer selected 26th overall by Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Lopez-Espin selected 33rd overall by Real Salt Lake
PHILADELPHIA -- Former Creighton men's soccer players Lucas Stauffer and Ricky Lopez-Espin were each drafted during the Second Round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft on Friday, Jan. 19.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC selected Stauffer with the third pick of the second round (26th overall), while Real Salt Lake claimed Lopez-Espin with the 10th pick of the second round (33rd overall).
Creighton has now had 40 MLS Draft picks since the league began in 1996.
Stauffer and Lopez-Espin were each selected for and participated in the 2018 MLS adidas Player Combine in Orlando (Jan. 11-17).
Both former Bluejays made the 2017 United Soccer Coaches All-Great Lakes Region teams (Lopez-Espin, First Team; Stauffer, Second Team).
Stauffer, an Owensboro, Kentucky, native, tallied 10 points from two goals and six assists while playing a team-high 1,550 minutes during the 2017 season. The senior defender played 86 career matches and started the final 67 contests of his four-year playing career. He also made the All-BIG EAST First Team twice, including during 2017.
Lopez-Espin, the 2017 Co-BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, led the BIG EAST in points and goals during the regular season. The Miami, Florida, native scored 11 goals and added three assists to total 25 points during 17 regular-season matches. The senior also paced the conference with 15 points and seven goals during BIG EAST contests. The co-captain ended his career with 30 goals to take over sole possession of eighth place on Creighton's career goals list. Lopez-Espin made the All-Great Lakes Region Second Team following the 2016 season.
The duo led Creighton to a 9-7-2 record during the 2017 season, and helped guide the program to the a pair of NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearances (2014, 2015) and three Sweet Sixteen berths (2014, 2015, 2016).
The BIG EAST Conference had a total of five draft picks during the first and second rounds of the MLS SuperDraft on Friday, the third-most of any conference in Division I soccer. Creighton is only BIG EAST school that had more than one player selected during the first day of the draft.
Rounds three and four of the SuperDraft will be held via a conference call at 1 p.m. Central on Sunday.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC selected Stauffer with the third pick of the second round (26th overall), while Real Salt Lake claimed Lopez-Espin with the 10th pick of the second round (33rd overall).
Creighton has now had 40 MLS Draft picks since the league began in 1996.
Stauffer and Lopez-Espin were each selected for and participated in the 2018 MLS adidas Player Combine in Orlando (Jan. 11-17).
Both former Bluejays made the 2017 United Soccer Coaches All-Great Lakes Region teams (Lopez-Espin, First Team; Stauffer, Second Team).
Stauffer, an Owensboro, Kentucky, native, tallied 10 points from two goals and six assists while playing a team-high 1,550 minutes during the 2017 season. The senior defender played 86 career matches and started the final 67 contests of his four-year playing career. He also made the All-BIG EAST First Team twice, including during 2017.
Lopez-Espin, the 2017 Co-BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, led the BIG EAST in points and goals during the regular season. The Miami, Florida, native scored 11 goals and added three assists to total 25 points during 17 regular-season matches. The senior also paced the conference with 15 points and seven goals during BIG EAST contests. The co-captain ended his career with 30 goals to take over sole possession of eighth place on Creighton's career goals list. Lopez-Espin made the All-Great Lakes Region Second Team following the 2016 season.
The duo led Creighton to a 9-7-2 record during the 2017 season, and helped guide the program to the a pair of NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearances (2014, 2015) and three Sweet Sixteen berths (2014, 2015, 2016).
The BIG EAST Conference had a total of five draft picks during the first and second rounds of the MLS SuperDraft on Friday, the third-most of any conference in Division I soccer. Creighton is only BIG EAST school that had more than one player selected during the first day of the draft.
Rounds three and four of the SuperDraft will be held via a conference call at 1 p.m. Central on Sunday.
Players Mentioned
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