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SANDY — Real Salt Lake took its best available player with its early round pick of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, adding center back Boyd Okwuonu from North Carolina.
On Tuesday, the Salt Lake club went with some positional needs in the draft’s final two rounds.
RSL added Syracuse defender Jordan Murrell and South Florida midfielder Lucas Baldin in Tuesday’s draft, which was held via conference call. Murrell was selected with the 57th overall pick and Baldin went 77th overall in the 84-pick draft.
“We are happy with what we accomplished in the SuperDraft this year, and today we were able to select two players that we envision to have the type of upside potential to help our club,” new RSL technical director Craig Waibel said in a statement.
The 5-foot-10 Murrell would be the second true left back on RSL’s roster, alongside recently re-signed Abdoulie Mansally. Murrell started all 74 matches of his Syracuse career, scoring five goals and adding 20 assists as the Orange’s lead player on corner kicks. The Canadian international played with Toronto FC’s academy team before committing to nearby Syracuse, and he had a career-high two goals and seven assists in both his sophomore and senior seasons.
The highly rated left back has been training with England sixth-division club Oxford City after he didn't receive an invitation to last week's MLS Combine, according to Syracuse coach Ian McIntyre. Murrell helped the Orange to a 16-4-1 record in 2014 that included its first-ever NSCAA No. 1 ranking before ending with a 2-1 overtime loss to rival Georgetown in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Stats won't do him credit. But when you look at him, he's got quality to link our defense and attack. He contributed some very important goals, and more so with some assists. He was a dead ball specialists with that left foot.
–Syracuse men's soccer coach Ian McIntyre
“Murrell is a talented left-sided defender that can play multiple positions,” Waibel added. “He has a very high soccer IQ and we are looking forward to having his physical presence and steady play in our back line.”
Murrell was the third Syracuse player selected in the SuperDraft, joining U.S. international goalkeeper Alex Bono and Canadian defender Skylar Thomas who both went to Toronto FC in the first round. The three players is an all-time SuperDraft high for Syracuse, and the first Orange players taken since 2009.
"He's a very smart player," McIntyre said of Murrell. "He's got an old head on his shoulders, and plays — from a tactical perspective — above his age and maturity. As a freshman, we threw him in the deep end. He really needed to defend well. We weren't particularly good, and in that defense with him and Skylar Thomas, they've matured and grew into two of the best defenders in the ACC."
Murrell played several games at left-sided center back for the Orange in his senior year, a leader on the field and in the locker room in group that improved from a three-win season to 16 in only three years.
"Stats won't do him credit. But when you look at him, he's got quality to link our defense and attack," McIntyre said. "He contributed some very important goals, and more so with some assists. He was a dead ball specialists with that left foot."
Baldin, a central attacking midfielder for the Bulls, had five goals and nine assists in a breakout 2014 season with the Bulls, finishing his collegiate career with 10 goals and nine assists. His nine assists were tied for a season-high across the American Athletic Conference.
The 5-8, 150-pound midfielder was born in Taubate, Brazil, grew up in Huixguilucan, Mexico, and played in the academy systems of Liga MX’s Toluca, Cruz Azul and Atlante, among others. He also represented Mexico's youth teams at Germany’s Berlin Games.
“Baldin can play different roles in the attacking half of the field,” Waibel said of the USF product. “He is clean on the ball and will add another goal-dangerous option to our attack.”
RSL players will report to Utah for entrance physicals on Friday ahead of training camp at RSL’s Arizona Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona, on Monday. The team kicks off the 2015 MLS season March 7 at Portland.
Now comes the new players' tasks of working into the team, either as first-team regulars, regular reserves, or within the newly launched Monarchs system in USL Pro. But for McIntyre and the Syracuse team that produced Murrell, the day is one of celebration.
"It was a good group, and a fun group to work with," McIntyre said. "Where ever they all end up, we'll be big supporters of them. It's a tough job as a coaching staff to try to replace them. But we'll enjoy this moment, and be proud and excited for each of them.
"Jordan's a quality young man from a wonderful family. I'm excited he has this opportunity today."
