Former Liberty University men’s soccer forward Joshua Boateng was selected today in the third round of the 2009 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft.
Boateng becomes the first Liberty soccer player to be picked in the MLS SuperDraft and the fifth Flames soccer player drafted by a MLS team. The midfielder/forward was taken in the third round by the Los Angeles Galaxy,a s the 33rd player overall chosen.
Boateng joins Adrian Bumbut, Osei Telesford, Darryl Roberts and Hollis Donaldson as Liberty players drafted by MLS squads. The previous four players have been selected in the past three years during the MLS Supplemental Draft.
During Boateng’s three years at Liberty, the Flames posted a 32-16-5 record, and last season, won the Big South Championship. For his play during Liberty’s first-ever conference title run, the Accra, Ghana native was named the 2007 Big South Tournament MVP.
This past fall, the forward/midfielder was a first-team All-South Atlantic and All-Big South performer in his final season at Liberty. Boateng compiled 32 points on 13 goals and six assists during the year, tying him for fifth on the program’s single-season points list. His 13 goals also tie him for sixth on the Liberty single-season goal list. The Hermann Trophy candidate ranked 12th in the nation in points per game (1.78) and 13th in goals per game (0.72). Boateng led the Big South in points per game, goals per game and was tied for first in game-winning goals with five.
The Los Angeles Galaxy will be directed this season by Arena, a two-time MLS Cup Champion head coach, winningest U.S. National Team Coach and 18-year Virginia Head Coach. Arena was named the Galaxy’s General Manager and Head Coach in August. Los Angeles’ roster includes David Beckham and U.S. National team standout Landon Donovan.