Three Big West Men's Soccer Players Selected in 2009 MLS SuperDraft

UC Santa Barbara's Chris Pontius

UC Davis' Quincy Amarikwa

UC Irvine's David Sias

Three former Big West men's soccer players took the first step in their professional careers Thursday as UC Santa Barbara's Chris Pontius, UC Davis' Quincy Amarikwa and UC Irvine's David Sias were selected in the Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft.

Pontius was the first of the trio to come off the board as the forward/midfielder was drafted seventh overall by D.C. United. He becomes the third Gaucho in the last two years to be drafted in the first round.

Amarikwa was next as he was taken in the third round, 32nd overall, by the San Jose Quakes. Amarikwa becomes the first-ever Aggie to be chosen in the SuperDraft and the second player since Ryan Shaw in 2004 to be drafted into the MLS.

Sias wrapped up the Big West selections as he was also chosen in the third round, 43rd overall, by the Chicago Fire. He is the first Anteater to be selected in the SuperDraft since the 2007 player draft. Current Seattle Sounders player Brad Evans was selected in the second round that year, 15th overall, by the Columbus Crew, while his UCI teammate Cameron Dunn was drafted by Chivas USA in the fourth round, 46th overall.