Sounders FC today selected two players on the first day of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, held at McCormick Place in Chicago. The Rave Green took Air Force Academy midfielder Tucker Bone with the 20th pick in the First Round, then chose Creighton defender Joel Rydstrand with the 20th selection of the Second Round (44th overall).
MEDIA RESOURCES
VIDEO – BONE ON BEING DRAFTED BY SOUNDERS FC: https://bit.ly/2AF5UzO
VIDEO – RYDSTRAND ON BEING DRAFTED BY SOUNDERS FC: https://bit.ly/2RKf5bZ
VIDEO - SOUNDERS FC GENERAL MANAGER & PRESIDENT OF SOCCER GARTH LAGERWEY: https://bit.ly/2slRMqz
VIDEO - SOUNDERS FC HEAD COACH BRIAN SCHMETZER:https://bit.ly/2Clpilg
VIDEO - SOUNDERS FC VP OF SOCCER & SPORTING DIRECTOR CHRIS HENDERSON: https://bit.ly/2RHoQru
Bone, 22, started 67 of 81 appearances over his four-year career at the U.S. Air Force Academy, recording 25 goals and 22 assists. He was named Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year and a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist as a senior in 2018 after tallying 13 goals and six assists in 22 appearances. Bone was also a three-time First Team All-WAC selection and a two-time United Soccer Coaches (USC) First Team All-American.
Rydstrand, 23, started all 81 of his appearances over a four-season at Creighton with seven goals and 23 assists. As a senior in 2018, the Swedish international earned Big East Conference Midfielder of the Year and First Team All-Big East honors, in addition to being a USC Second Team All-East Region selection. He was also named to the Big East Conference All-Rookie Team in 2015 after tallying three goals and three assists as a freshman in 2015.
The 2019 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas concludes on Monday, January 14 via conference call. Sounders FC holds one pick in the Third Round (68th overall selection).
Sounders FC begins its 2019 preseason on Tuesday, January 22 at Starfire Sports before traveling to out-of-town training camps in Orange County, California (January 24-February 2) and Tucson, Arizona (February 6-16). Major League Soccer unveiled Sounders FC's full 2019 schedule earlier this week, with the Rave Green set to host expansion side FC Cincinnati in the season opener on March 2 at CenturyLink Field.
TRANSACTIONS: Sounders FC selects Tucker Bone with the 20th selection in the First Round and Joe Rydstrand with the 44th overall selection in the Second Round of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft (both currently unsigned to the First Team roster).
Name: Tucker Bone
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-11
Weight: 160
Age: 22
Born: January 23, 1996 in Tacoma, Washington
Hometown: Granite Bay, California
Citizenship: United States
College: Air Force Academy
Acquired: Selected with the 20th pick of the First Round (20th overall) in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft
Name: Joel Rydstrand
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-9
Weight: 155
Age: 23
Born: August 10, 1995 in Uppsala, Sweden
Hometown: Almunge, Sweden
Citizenship: Sweden
College: Creighton
Acquired: Selected with the 20th pick of the second round (44th overall) in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft
