CLEMSON SOCCER

Clemson player selected by New York Red Bulls


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Former Clemson men’s soccer player Manolo Sanchez was selected by the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer’s 2015 SuperDraft earlier today. New York made Sanchez the 79th overall pick. He is the third former Tiger to join MLS in the last week.

This season, Sanchez tied for the team lead in games played (22), assists (6) and points (12). The Philadelphia native lead the team with 37 shots and scored a key goal in Clemson’s 2-1 victory over then No. 6 Virginia on Oct. 17 earlier this season. An offensive presence in the attacking third all season, Sanchez scored three goals in 2014.

Sanchez joins Clemson products Amadou Dia, Phanuel Kavita, Thomas McNamara, Joe Bendik and Nathan Sturgis in MLS. Dia and Kavita were both teammates of Sanchez’s this past season when Clemson won the 2014 ACC Tournament championship.

Dia was drafted 20th overall by Sporting Kansas City on Thursday and Kavita signed a homegrown contract with Real Salt Lake early last week. With Dia’s selection and Kavita’s signing, 2015 is the first year since 2003 that three former Clemson players will have the opportunity to play in MLS.

Official Clemson bio

In 2013 (Junior):

Starter in 17 matches, played in 21 contests in the midfield

Scored five goals and had three assists for 13 points

Third leading goal scorer on the team with five

Tied for second on the team for most assists with three

Scored the game-winning goal in Clemson’s 1-0 victory over N.C. State

In 2012 (Sophomore):

Made an immediate impact on the team with his arrival at Clemson

Third leading scorer on the team

Had two goals and a team high six assists

Scored Clemson's goal in the 1-1 draw with Wake Forest on September 7 at Historic Riggs Field

Also scored a goal in the UNC-Greensboro match on October 2 in the Tigers' 2-0 victory

Had two assists in Clemson's 2-1 overtime win over N.C. State

Also had a two-assist night against Virginia on September 28

Had one assist against #2 Maryland in the ACC Tournament on November 9, in Germantown, MD

Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll

Before Clemson:

Transfer from Louisville, enrolled at Clemson in January, 2012

Red-shirted the 2010 season and played in three matches in 2011 at Louisville

Attended Germantown Friends School (GFS) played for Head Coach Matt Zipin

Played for the Yardley-Makefield Soccer (YMS) club team for Coaches John Greaves, Jim Powers

Led his high school league in points for three seasons

High school league MVP his junior and senior seasons

Finished his high school career as the all-time leader in goals scored with 59 and assists with 38

Two-time All Southeast Selection

Earned All-Southeastern Pennsylvania and all-state honors his junior and senior seasons

Club Team Accomplishments include four-time state champions, two-time Region 1 Champions

His club also made three consecutive appearances in the National Championships in the 2010 Super Y League National Finals

Born November 10, 1991

Majoring in communication studies

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