SuperDraft

Toronto FC concludes 2015 SuperDraft with three picks

SalvadorBernal

The 2015 MLS SuperDraft concluded on Tuesday, as rounds three and four were completed in just under 30 minutes via conference call.


Toronto FC selected forward Micheal Ramos (3rd round, 50th overall) from Whitworth University, forward Salvador Bernal (4th round, 70th overall) from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and forward Tyler Engel (4th round, 81st overall) from the University of North Carolina.


Ramos’ pathway to MLS was an unconventional one to say the least. He began his collegiate career at Walla Walla Community College where he was a two-time NWAACC All-Star. He transferred to Seattle University for his junior season, and scored two goals and five assists in 17 games.


He left academia to pursue a career in professional soccer abroad, a journey that would take him to Iceland and Sweden where Ramos played in semi-professional leagues.


Eventually Ramos returned to Spokane, where he enrolled at Whitworth University, a Division III school.


Ramos, 23, impressed during his senior season, putting up 14 goals and 12 assists. He was named the 2014 Northwest Conference offensive player of the year and garnered an invite to a pre-draft combine co-hosted by Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders in Las Vegas. That’s where he caught the eye of TFC’s scouts and the rest is now, history.


Bernal, 22, became the third Rebel in school history to win All-American honours, capping a sterling four-year career at UNLV with a standout senior season.


Engel, 22, was a major part of the Tar Heel soccer program from his freshman season onward, registering 80 games played and 26 goals over four years.


Toronto FC made five picks in the first two rounds of the SuperDraft last Thursday in Philadelphia. Alex Bono (sixth overall), Clement Simonin (ninth overall), Skylar Thomas (11th overall), Wes Charpie (29th overall) and Edwin Rivas (37th overall) join Ramos, Bernal and Engel to round out TFC’s 2015 draft class.