PORTLAND, Ore.— The Portland Timbers today selected four players in the 2011 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft. With four picks in the three-round draft, the Timbers selected forwards Spencer Thompson and Raymundo Reza, midfielder Robby Lynch and defender Taylor Mueller.
Among their four picks, the Timbers held the No. 2 overall pick in the Supplemental Draft and selected Thompson from the University of California, Irvine. Portland also held the No. 12 overall pick in the first round as well as the No. 20 (second round) and No. 38 overall (third round) selections.
Thompson, 22, completed his senior season at UC-Irvine in 2010, recording six goals and six assists in 18 matches. He was named to the 2010 Hermann Trophy Watch List and was one of Top Drawer Soccer’s Top 20 Players to Watch last season. Thompson finished his collegiate career among UC-Irvine’s career leaders in scoring (67 points), goals (25), assists (17) and matches played (78). A native of Ahwatukee, Ariz., Thompson was a three-time All-Big West Conference selection (2008-10) for the Anteaters and was named to the All-Far West Region Second Team as a junior in 2009.
Lynch, 22, was also selected by Portland in the first round (No. 12 overall). At the University of Evansville, Lynch played 77 matches during his collegiate career and recorded 18 goals and 17 assists. He played in 18 games (all starts) during his senior season in 2010, finishing second on the team in scoring with five goals and three assists. A native of Carmel, Ind., Lynch was named the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Defensive Player of the Year following his senior season and was one of 30 finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS award. He was a four-time All-MVC selection and an All-Midwest Region selection in three consecutive seasons (2008-10).
Portland selected Reza, 21, in the second round (No. 20 overall). He totaled six goals and six assists in 19 matches during his senior campaign at San Diego State University in 2010. Reza led the Aztecs in scoring for a third straight season in 2010, garnering All-Pac-10 first-team, NSCAA All-Far West Region second-team and Top Drawer Soccer third-team honors. The Denver, Colo., native totaled 20 goals and 15 assists in 72 games during his collegiate career and ranked among the Pac-10’s leading goal scorers in each of his final three seasons. In total, he was a three-time All-Pac-10 selection.
Mueller, 22, was taken with the Timbers’ third-round pick (No. 38 overall). Mueller anchored the backline for four years during his collegiate career at the University of Washington. As a senior in 2010, he played in 17 games and captained the Huskies to nine shutouts. Following the season, Mueller earned his third straight All-Pac-10 second-team selection, was an NSCAA All-Far West Region second-team honoree and was named Washington’s Defensive MVP. During his collegiate career, Mueller, a native of Sammamish, Wash., contributed to 25 shutouts in 72 games and helped the Huskies to the 2007 NCAA Tournament as a freshman.
Timbers 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft Selections:
Spencer Thompson (No. 2 overall)
Position: Forward
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
Born: Oct. 19, 1988
Hometown: Ahwatukee, Ariz.
Last Club: University of California, Irvine
College: University of California, Irvine
Robby Lynch (No. 12 overall)
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
Born: Aug. 9, 1988
Hometown: Carmel, Ind.
Last Club: University of Evansville
College: University of Evansville
Raymundo Reza (No. 20 overall)
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
Born: May 7, 1989
Hometown: Denver, Colo.
Last Club: San Diego State University
College: San Diego State University
Taylor Mueller (No. 38 overall)
Position: Defender
Height: 6-2
Born: Sept. 20, 1988
Hometown: Sammamish, Wash.
Last Club: University of Washington
College: University of Washington
