UCI trio selected in MLS supplemental draft

UC Irvine’s Spencer Thompson, Amani Walker and Corey Attaway have all been selected in the 2011 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft.

Thompson was the second pick of the first round by the Portland Timbers, while Walker was taken ninth overall by the Chicago Fire. Attaway was a second-round choice and the 29th overall pick by the Seattle Sounders.

Thompson, an All-Big West second-team honoree, was second on the UCI team with 18 points, scoring six goals and six assists. The three-time all-conference selection was on the 2010 Hermann Trophy Watch List and collected San Diego Central All-Tournament honors as well as a Big West Offensive Player of the Week accolade. This season the forward was ranked nationally in total assists (71st) and assists per game (74th). Thompson concluded his collegiate career fifth in the UCI records with 67 career points and 25 goals.

Walker garnered Soccer America MVP second-team and Big West Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors after scoring 24 points on 11 goals and two assists. The forward, who was invited to the 2011 MLS Combine, ranked nationally in total goals (24th), goals per game (32nd) as well as sitting 44th in total points. Walker was named a Big West Offensive Player of the Week twice this season and finished his UCI career fourth with 27 goals and sixth with 65 points. He leaves the Anteater program as the all-time leader in games played with 85.

Attaway was voted to the NSCAA All-Region and All-Big West Conference first teams after finishing third on the Anteater squad with 13 points, scoring five goals and three assists. Attaway also anchored the Anteater defense as the team recorded a single-season record of 11 shutouts and held opposing teams to just 13 goals on the year. The defender was named to the UCI College Classic and San Diego Central All-Tournament teams as well as being selected as a Big West Defensive Player of the Week.

Head coach George Kuntz’s team posted a 14-3-3 record, registering the second-highest number of victories in a single season. The Anteaters were the Big West Conference regular-season champions and advanced to the Big West Tournament for the third straight year.

“We would like to congratulate Spencer, Amani and Corey on being drafted this year by Major League Soccer,” Kuntz said. “All three will bring some very explosive skills to their respective teams. They are all extremely talented student-athletes who have all excelled in the classroom as scholar-athletes as well being at the top of their game. We feel that the leadership qualities they have displayed day-in and day-out during their collegiate careers have helped UCI to become one of the top teams in the Big West Conference as well as the country. We are very proud of this group of players as the latest draftees into Major League Soccer. This brings a grand total of 10 players that have been drafted into Major League Soccer from UC Irvine with nine of them being selected since 2006.”

— From staff reports