Buescher, Polk Go in First Round of MLS SuperDraft

BALTIMORE, Md. – Syracuse University midfielder Julian Buescher and forward Ben Polk were both picked in the first round of the 2016 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft on Thursday, January 14 in Baltimore, Md. DC United traded for the 11th pick and used to select Buescher, while Polk was drafted by the reigning MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers with the 20th overall pick.

Syracuse was one of four schools with multiple first-round picks.It marks the second straight year that the Orange have had two players selected in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft. Last season, goalkeeper Alex Bono was the sixth overall pick and defender Skylar Thomas was chosen five picks later, both by Toronto FC.

Buescher was a semifinalist for the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Award and earned NCSAA second-team All-America honors in 2015. He finished the season with 27 points on eight goals and 11 assists. He ranked eighth in the nation in assists and 25th in points with a string of nine consecutive matches with at least one point. Buescher was voted to the All-ACC First Team and ACC All-Tournament Team as well as the All-South Region First Team.

Polk led the Orange in points (28) and goals (12) this season. He finished 18th in the nation in goals (12) and 21st in points (28), while also ranking 10th in game-winning goals (5). Polk was named to the All-South Region First Team and earned ACC Tournament MVP honors after scoring both of Syracuse's goals in a 2-0 win at Clemson in the semifinals and its goal in a 1-0 victory at Notre Dame in the title match.

Buescher and Polk led Syracuse to a historic season in 2015. The Orange finished the season with a 16-5-4 record, just one win shy of the single-season school record. Syracuse claimed the program's first ACC Championship and earned the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Orange defeated Seattle for its first third-round victory in three tries before beating Boston College in the Elite Eight to advance to the College Cup for the first time in school history. Syracuse tied No. 3 Clemson, 0-0, in the national semifinals, but the Tigers won the penalty kick shootout to advance to the championship match.

The first two rounds of the MLS SuperDraft were held at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Md. and featured 41 picks by the league's 20 teams. The third and fourth round will be conducted via teleconference on Tuesday, January 19.

Syracuse MLS Draft History
1996 SuperDraft
Eric Puls - Colorado Rapids - 12th round (112th overall)
Paul Young - Columbus Crew - 13th round (121st overall)

1997 Supplemental Draft
Mike Britton - Colorado Rapids - 3rd round (23rd overall)

2004 SuperDraft
Chris Aloisi - Los Angeles Galaxy - 6th round (57th overall)

2006 Supplemental Draft
Ezra Prendergast - Chicago Fire - 3rd round (34th overall)

2007 SuperDraft
Richard Asante - Toronto FC - 3rd round (27th overall)

2009 SuperDraft
Kyle Hall - Toronto FC - 3rd round (39th overall)

2014 SuperDraft
Alex Bono - Toronto FC - 1st round (6th overall)
Skylar Thomas - Toronto FC - 1st round (11th overall)
Jordan Murrell - Real Salt Lake - 3rd round (57th overall)

2015 SuperDraft
Julian Buescher - DC United - 1st round (11th overall)
Ben Polk - Portland Timbers - 1st round (20th overall)

Syracuse University Athletics

Buescher, Polk Go in First Round of MLS SuperDraft

Players Mentioned

Julian Buescher

Ben Polk

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