FIVE NPSL PLAYERS SELECTED IN FIRST TWO ROUNDS OF 2016 MLS SUPERDRAFT

Goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell (San Jose Earthquakes), forward Thomas Sanner (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), defender Zach Carroll (New York Red Bulls), forward Keegan Smith (Montreal Impact), and midfielder/winger Neco Brett (Portland Timbers) were all selected in the first two rounds of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday, January 14th.

Tarbell, who was a standout with the New Orleans Jesters’ NPSL squad and recently signed a Generation adidas contract, was selected 8th overall. He led the Clemson men’s soccer team to a national runner-up finish at the 2015 College Cup. The native of Mandeville, La., was named to the NSCAA All-America Second Team, the College Cup All-Tournament Team, and the All-ACC First Team in 2015, among many other postseason honors. He started all 24 games in goal for Clemson in 2015, playing 2,244 minutes, which ranked second in the nation among minutes played by a goalkeeper, and posted a 17-3-4 record. He tallied 84 saves, a figure which was first in the ACC, and posted a .792 save percentage, a 0.88 goals against average, and nine solo shutouts on the season.

Sanner, who played with the Indiana Fire, was the 29th overall pick. The Indianapolis, Indiana native scored 32 goals and 15 assists over four seasons at Princeton. He was the unanimous 2015 Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Ivy League with 13 goals and five assists. He was also named First Team All-Ivy League in both 2013 and 2015 as well as NSCAA First Team All-East Region and First Team All-ECAC in 2015. He was Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2012.

Carroll, who played for the NPSL’s RVA FC, was the 18th pick in the second round (38th overall). The Grand Blanc, Michigan represented the United States at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2011, and was part of the U-17 side that won the CONCACAF Tournament the same year. He was also part of the U.S. Under-17 residency program in 2010 and 2011.

Carroll spent two seasons at the University of Virginia before transferring to Michigan State ahead of his junior season. He played 24 games for the Cavaliers, recording two goals and three assists. He played 39 for Michigan State, starting 38, and recorded seven goals and four assists over his junior and senior seasons. He earned First Team All-Big Ten honors and was named to the NSCAA Second Team All-Midwest Region as a senior. As a freshman at Virginia he also earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Team honors.

Smith, who spent time with Temecula FC in the West Region, scored seven goals in 18 games last season with San Diego and was named WCC Player of the Year. Smith was also a member of the U.S. U-15 and U-17 national teams.

A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Brett garnered experience with the Jamaica U-17 and U-20 Men’s National Team. The Fort Pitt Regiment standout was the Portland Timbers’ only pick in the second round (40th overall). The midfielder/winger registered 42 goals and 16 assists in four seasons with Robert Morris University, including tallying 13 goals and five assists during his senior season in 2015 in which he ranked tied for seventh in the nation in goalscoring and was named an NSCAA Third-Team All-American and the Northeastern Conference Player of the Year.

Brett, who ranks second all-time in career goals for the Colonials, finished among the top players nationally in goals scored during his sophomore and junior seasons, ending the 2014 campaign tied for first in the nation with 15 goals among all Division I players.