Herman, Verso and Vincent selected in first rounds of MLS SuperDraft

BALTIMORE -- Three Pac-12 men’s soccer players were selected in the first two rounds of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday. Two defensive specialists were selected in the first round, including STANFORD’s Brandon Vincent and WASHINGTON’s Ryan Herman. Cardinal midfielder Eric Verso was chosen in the second round.

Vincent, a defender from Valencia, Calif., was selected fourth overall to the Chicago Fire. Vincent earned back-to-back Pac-12 Defender of the Year honors, with the award being enacted in 2014. The Cardinal captain helped lead Stanford to its first College Cup victory and earned Defensive Player of the Game honors. The NSCAA First Team All-American and Pac-12 Men’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year honoree was most recently added to the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the team’s January training camp.

Herman, a goalkeeper from Fall City, Wash., was picked 17th overall by FC Dallas. Herman earned NSCAA Third Team All-America honors after leading the Pac-12 in goals against average at 0.63. The redshirt senior goalkeeper was a member of the All-Pac-12 First Team and earned NSCAA All-Far West Region First Team honors as well. Herman’s selection marks the sixth-straight year a Husky has been drafted in the MLS.

Verso was chosen 34th overall to the Montreal Impact. Verso, a midfielder from Los Angeles earned second team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Academic honors in 2015. Verso collected 45 points in his career on The Farm on 13 goals and 19 assists. One of the top distributors in Stanford history, Verso finished tied for second nationally in assists this season at 13. Verso was named to the 2015 College Cup All-Tournament Team. 

Rounds three and four of the MLS SuperDraft will be conducted via conference call on Tuesday, January 19.