DC United selects Odoi-Atsem in first round
Chris Odoi-Atsem won’t be going far to start his professional soccer career. The offensively-skilled Terps right back was selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by DC United on Friday.
Odoi-Atsem’s selection continues a 14-year streak of Terps getting drafted in the MLS. He is the 41st Terp in history to be selected going back to 1998 and 19th first round draft pick.
Odoi-Atsem has anchored the Terps defense since his arrival at college park in 2013. As a senior he was a first team All-Big Ten selection as he helped guide Maryland to a third-straight Big Ten tournament title and fourth-straight conference championship overall. Maryland was undefeated in the regular season and Odoi-Atsem was a huge reason the team enjoyed a school record five-game shutout streak.
As a senior Odoi-Atsem scored on goal and had six assists. He finished his collegiate career with three goals and eight assists.
DC United currently has Sean Franklin as their right back. He has been a solid feature for the squad but has been hampered by injuries the past two seasons. Odoi-Atsem figures to become his eventual replacement in the starting XI.
Suli Dainkeh figures to be selected in the third or fourth round of the MLS Draft after being among the 53 NCAA Division I college players who participated in the 2017 adidas MLS Player Combine. Dainkeh started all 21 matches for the Terps on the back line with Odoi-Atsem. The captain of the Terps and anchoring center back Alex Crognale signed a Homegrown contract with the Columbus Crew in late December.
Corey Johns
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