Cascadia Roundup: 2015 MLS SuperDraft Round 3

photo courtesy of wikipedia.org

This week’s edition of Cascadia Roundup focuses on stories about all three Cascadia teams–Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps. For those of you that do not know, Cascadia Roundup will be a weekly report on what is going on in Cascadia. This is a special edition as rounds three and four were conducted in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft on Tuesday. Take a look at the third round.

THIRD ROUND

The Sounders had the first pick of the Cascadia teams in round three with the sixth pick (46th overall).

Andy Craven

FWD, North Carolina

Craven’s freshman and sophomore seasons were spent at College of Charleston. He was named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year in 2010 and All-Southern Conference Second Team in 2011. He scored six goals before suffering a season ending injury. In 2012 Craven transferred to North Carolina and led the Tar Heels in scoring in his first season in Chapel Hill. He grabbed six goals to go with five assists for a team-best 17 points in 22 games, 18 of those starts. He missed all of the 2013 season after suffering an injury in preseason. In 2014, Craven appeared in 22 games scoring 15 goals to go along with five assists. He was an NSCAA All-America First Team, All-ACC First Team and a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist. He also was tied for the national lead in goals.

I like the selection, but the only thing that really concerns me is his injury history. He missed a full season and a partial one to injury. If he can stay healthy, he can be a dangerous striker for S2 in the next few years.

The Timbers were the next team to pick in the second round with the 10th pick (52nd overall).

Anthony Manning

DEF, Saint Louis

Named Atlantic 10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and 2014. Helped lead the Billikens defense with 11 shutouts, tops in the league. In 2013 he was named Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team as well as NSCAA All-Region Second Team. In 2102, he was named to the NSCAA All-Region First Team, Atlantic 10 All Conference Second Team and helped the defense with nine shutouts.

The Timbers are showing that they aren’t messing around when it comes to defense. That transition began last year when they brought in Liam Ridgewell. Continued this off season with the addition of Nats Borchers and the selection last week of Nick Besler. The Timbers are looking to be a team to deal with defensively.

The Whitecaps finally got to select a player with the 12th pick (54th overall) in the third round. They also held the 16th pick (58th overall) and the 19th pick (61st overall).

Jovan Blagojevic

FWD, Simon Fraser University

He had six goals and four assists during the 2012 season despite playing in only 12 games due to injury. Prior to playing at Simon Fraser he was the MVP of Serbian Invitational Vancouver Tournament in 2008, MVP of U-21 Provincial Cup in 2008 and MVP of Roman Tulis European Soccer School of Excellence in 2007.

I cannot seem to find a lot of information regarding Blagojevic. He is a forward and it seems like they are looking for more forwards. He might see some time with the Whitecaps USL-Pro affiliate next year.

Adam Montague

MID, Michigan State

Played two seasons at Michigan State from 2011-2012. In 2011, he started 14 of 18 games he played in his freshman season, coming up with five goals and five assists. He was named Second Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten All-Freshman team and selected in College Soccer News’ All-Freshman team. His sophomore season he started all 23 games. He led the team in goals (8), assists (6), and points (22). He was named First Team All-Big Ten and Third Team NSCAA All-Great Lakes region.

Montague could be a huge pick up for the Whitecaps. He will more than likely play with their USL-Pro team this year and possibly next year as well. He can learn a lot from Mauro Rosales.

Spencer Richey

GK, University of Washington

In 2010, Richey topped PAC-10 rankings in shutouts, second in goals against average, third in save percentage and shutouts. He also finished 2010 sixth in saves and saves per game. He earned All-Pac-12 Second Team in 2011 and Pac-12 Academic Honorable Mention in 2011 and 2012. 2012 could be considered one of his best as he was named All-Far West Second Team, All-Pac-12 First Team. He ranked first in the Pac-12 in goals against average. In 2013 he only started four games before he broke his leg in early September. He helped UW advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the second straight season in 2014.

Richey was a player a few mock drafts had going at #40 overall. It was not to be as he slid down the draft a little farther than he probably liked. I feel that the injury in 2013 really set him back and was one of the main reasons he fell so far down the draft board.

Stay tuned to playingfor90 for round four of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.

Next: Garth Lagerwey Made A Huge Mistake

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