Toronto FC II announced Thursday that the club has signed goalkeeper Drew Shepherd, defenders Robert Boskovic, Kyle Bjornethun and midfielder Alan Mariano Miño to USL contracts. Miño signing is pending league and federation approval.
Shepherd, 23, was drafted by Toronto FC in the second round (46thoverall) of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. During his four year colligate career at Western Michigan University, Shepherd recorded a record of 34-12-10 with 29 career clean sheets. In 2017, Shepherd was named a USC Second Team All-American and USC Academic All-American after winning 16 of 21 games.
Boskovic, 19, has made 25 appearances in three seasons for TFC II in the USL as a call up from the Toronto FC Academy. He made his debut for TFC II when he came on as a substitute against AS Roma Primavera on Tuesday, July 28, 2015. Boskovic made his USL debut on August 15, 2015 against the Richmond Kickers and earned his first start in USL on September 9 against the Charlotte Independence. In 2017, he also represented Toronto FC III at the 69thViareggio Cup, appearing in all three group stage matches.
Boskovic also played the past two seasons with the Ryerson Rams of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA). With the Rams, he appeared in 27 matches registering two goals and three assists. During his rookie season in 2016-17, he was named an OUA East Division first-team all-star, the OUA rookie of the year, a U Sports first-team all-star and the winner of the Lou Bilek Award for the U Sports men’s soccer rookie of the year. Boskovic is the first Ryerson Ram to claim the Lou Bilek award since its inception in 1999.
Bjornethun, 22, appeared in 26 matches for Portland Timbers 2 (T2) during the 2017 USL season, registering one assist while logging 2,037 minutes. He made his USL and T2 debut on March 25, 2017 against Real Monarchs. Prior to joining T2, Bjornethun spent four years at Seattle University where he started in 85 matches, registering nine goals and four assists. In 2016, Bjornethun was named WAC Defender of the Year and selected to the First Team All-Western Athletic Conference.
Miño, 23, made 10 appearances for Sud América in the Uruguayan 1st Division this past season, scoring twice. The native of Mercedes made 28 league appearances for Boca Unidos in the Primera B Nacional, the second division in Argentina, in 2016-17 before making his move to Uruguay. Miño tallied three goals during his time with Boca Unidos.
TRANSACTION: Toronto FC II signed goalkeeper Drew Shepherd, defenders Robert Boskovic, Kyle Bjornethun and midfielder Alan Mariano Miño
DREW SHEPHERD
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6’3
Weight: 200
Birthdate: December 25, 1994
Birthplace: Ann Arbour, Michigan
Nationality: American
Last Club: Western Michigan University
How Acquired: Signed with Toronto FC II after previously being drafted byToronto FC during the 2018 MLS SuperDraft
ROBERT BOSKOVIC
Position: Defender
Height: 6’3
Weight: 176
Birthdate: July 1, 1998
Birthplace: Mississauga, Ontario
Nationality: Canadian
Last Club: Toronto FC Academy
How Acquired: Signed with Toronto FC II
Pronunciation: “BOSS- KO- VIC”
KYLE BJORNETHUN
Position: Defender
Height: 5’11
Weight: 155
Birthdate: March 16, 1995
Birthplace: Snohomish, Washington
Nationality: American
Last Club: Portland Timbers 2
How Acquired: Signed with Toronto FC II
ALAN MARIANO MIÑO
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’3
Weight: 137
Birthdate: March 28, 1994
Birth Place: Mercedes, Argentina
Nationality: Argentine
Last Club: Sud América
How Acquired: Signed with Toronto FC II
Pronunciation: “MA-RIA-NO M-EE-N-OH”
TFC II