UC Santa Barbara teammates Luis Silva and Sam Garza were selected fourth and sixth overall, respectively, in Thursday's Major League Soccer SuperDraft, giving the Gauchos a pair of first rounders for the second time in school history.
Silva's selection by Toronto FC tied him with former Cal State Northridge standout Sean Franklin (2008, Los Angeles Galaxy) for the highest pick of a Big West player in MLS SuperDraft history. In hearing Garza's name called two picks later by the San Jose Earthquakes, UC Santa Barbara secured two first-round selections for the first time since 2008 when Ciaran O'Brien and Andy Iro were drafted fifth and sixth, respectively.
The list of all-time first-round Gaucho draft picks grew to five. Chris Pontius went seventh overall to D.C. United in 2009.
A total of seven Big West players now have selected in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft. In addition to the five Gauchos and CSUN's Franklin, Duncan Oughton of Cal State Fullerton was picked 10th overall by the Columbus Crew in 2001.
Overall, 29 Big West players have been selected in the SuperDraft, and at least one every year since the draft began in 2000. An additional 18 conference players have been picked up in MLS Supplemental Drafts.
That total could rise when the MLS conducts four additional rounds of the Supplemental Draft on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
Silva, the 2011 Big West Midfielder of the Year, had one of the finest seasons in UCSB and conference history. His long list of accolades included First Team All-American honors from the NSCAA and College Soccer News, a Soccer America MVP First Team selection and All-Far West Region First Team kudos.
He led the Big West in goals (17) and points (44), and tied for conference-high honors in assists with 10. The 44 points tied a UCSB single-season mark and ranked fifth in Big West history. His 17 goals tied for eighth-best in conference single-season annals. In addition, he finished his career ranked in the Big West top 10 for goals (28, t-9th), assists (23, t-7th) and points (79, 7th).
Garza captured All-Big West First Team and All-Far West First Team honors for the second straight season after finishing second on the Gauchos with 20 points on eight goals and four assists. After transferring from Denver as a sophomore, Garza collected 17 goals and 10 assists in two solid seasons as a Gaucho.