Galaxy Focuses on Defense in MLS Draft

Seth George, a former UCLA striker whose strangest claim to fame is that he once skateboarded from Westwood to Mission Viejo, was the only forward drafted by the Galaxy on Sunday when Major League Soccer held its 1999 college and supplemental drafts in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“Yes, he’s a bit different,� said Galaxy Coach Octavio Zambrano, who preferred talking about the defensive additions he had made to his squad. Of the six players drafted by the Galaxy, three are defenders.

Zambrano made Tony Soto, a 6-foot, 187-pound defender from Southern Methodist, his first selection in the collegiate draft and Gabe Eastman, a 6-0, 185-pound defender from the Nashville Metros of the A-League his top choice (and the top overall pick) in the supplemental draft.

“I think we came out with a fine young player, a player with a lot of poise and determination and a real presence,� Zambrano said of Soto, 22, who anchored SMU’s defense last season and was named the Western Athletic Conference’s player of the year.

Zambrano said he also feels that Eastman, 21, “has incredible potential to be a top-class player in this league.

“He’s got all the tools needed for success, but because of the environment he’s been in he hasn’t had the chance to excel or really be challenged. I have great expectations of him, I see him as a great player in the making.�

Zambrano also chose Orlando Perez, a 6-1, 155-pound defender from the Orange County Zodiac, as his other first-round selection in the supplemental draft.

The Galaxy made George, of Rancho Santa Margarita, the first player chosen in the second round of the college draft, even though the striker is now with 1860 Munich in the German Bundesliga. The team also selected midfielder Sam Franklin of the University of Virginia.

In addition, the Galaxy brought a former player back into its ranks when it picked up midfielder John Jones from the Nashville Metros in the second round of the supplemental draft. Jones, 25, had been a 1997 Galaxy draft choice and played in five games before being released.

In all, 35 college players were drafted, including five members of the U.S. under-23 national team now preparing for Sydney 2000 Olympic qualifying. All of them went in the first round, including: midfielder Jason Moore (Virginia to D.C. United as the overall No. 1 pick); midfielder Lazo Alavanja (Indiana to the Dallas Burn); forward Chris Brown (Portland to the Kansas City Wizards); defender Matt Chulis (Virginia to the Columbus Crew); and defender Evan Whitfield (Duke to the Chicago Fire).

Another 24 players were selected in the supplemental draft. In addition to George and Perez, one other local player was drafted--midfielder Tom Poltl of UCLA, chosen by the Colorado Rapids.

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Galaxy Draft Picks

COLLEGE DRAFT

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Round, Player Pos. Ht. Wt. College 1. Tony Soto D 6-0 187 SMU 2. Seth George F 5-9 164 UCLA 2. Sam Franklin M 5-11 165 Virginia

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SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT

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Round, Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Team 1. Gabe Eastman D 6-0 185 Nashville Metros 1. Orlando Perez D 6-1 155 Orange County Zodiac 2. John Jones M 6-0 185 Nashville Metros

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MLS college draft, first round:

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Pick, Team Player Pos. College 1. Washington Jason Moore M Virginia 2. Miami Jay Heaps M Duke 3. San Jose Richard Mulrooney F Creighton 4. Dallas Lazo Alavanja M Indiana 5. Kansas City Chris Brown F Portland 6. Dallas Bobby Rhine F Connecticut 7. NY/NJ John Wolyniec F Fordham 8. Colorado Andrew Mittendorf F Lehigh 9. Columbus Matt Chulis D Virginia 10. Galaxy Tony Soto D SMU 11. Chicago Evan Whitfield D Duke 12. Dallas Paul Broome M SMU

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