Jan. 14, 2010
PHILADELPHIA - Three San Diego State men's soccer players were selected in the 2010 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, which was held Thursday in Philadelphia. Steve Beitashour (San Jose, Calif.) was picked in the second round and 30th overall by the San Jose Earthquakes, while Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo.) was tabbed six spots later at No. 36 (third round) by the Kansas City Wizards. Jamel Wallace (San Diego/Oceanside HS) rounded out the Aztec draft picks after being selected 59th (fourth round) by the Seattle Sounders FC.
SDSU's three draft selections were tied with NCAA runner-up Akron and Notre Dame for the third-most in the country, as only two schools (UCLA (5) and Wake Forest (4)) had more. Two San Diego State players - Ted Chronopolous (No. 45, fifth round) and Tally Hall (No. 44, fourth round) - were drafted into the MLS (Marcelo Balboa, Cle Kooiman and Eric Wynalda each were 1996 inaugural allocations) before today, while three others were picked in the MLS supplemental draft. Those suppemental picks included Matt Couch (2006 fourth round, Los Angeles Galaxy), Raul Bautista (2007 second round, Chivas USA) and Kraig Chiles (2008 first round, Chivas USA).
Beitashour's No. 30 selection, the highest in program history, comes on the heels of his best season at San Diego State. The Leland HS grad garnered honorable mention all-Pac-10 accolades in November, becoming one of the top 1-v-1 defenders in the conference in the process. He also added a career-high tying three assists. Over his career, Beitashour had eight points, all coming on assists, and 33 shot attempts. Beitashour also shined in the classroom after being named to the 2009 Pac-10 All-Academic Team as an honorable mention selection.
Cardenas, who last month became the second Aztec ever to earn NSCAA all-Far West Region honors four times, recently participated in the MLS Player Combine in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., where he showcased his skills to the coaching and management staffs of all 16 MLS teams. Cardenas wrapped up a stellar four-year career in November when he earned first-team all-Pac-10 honors, his fourth straight year on the all-conference team. A two-time preseason All-American by College Soccer News, Cardenas finished his career with 12 goals and seven assists (31 points) from the backline.
Wallace rounds out the San Diego State selections after making his third straight appearance on the all-conference team in 2009. Wallace, who has played all three field positions since coming to The Mesa, started 64 of the 69 games he appeared in over his career, registering 15 points on seven goals and an assist. Three of his seven career tallies were game-winners. Wallace was one of three captains for the Aztecs this season, joining Cardenas and Matt McManus (Santa Clarita, Calif.).
2010 Major League Soccer SuperDraft
Four rounds - 64 selections
(SDSU selections listed only)
No. 30 (second round) - Steve Beitashour, D/MF, San Diego State
No. 36 (third round) - Nick Cardenas, D, San Diego State
No. 59 (fourth round) - Jamel Wallace, MF, San Diego State