Timbers select Kawulok in Supplemental Draft

The Portland Timbers didn't stray too far from home in making their first pick in Major League Soccer's Supplemental Draft Tuesday.

The Timbers selected defender Ryan Kawulok from the University of Portland with their first-round pick (eighth overall) of the supplemental draft. Kawulok scored two goals and added two assists in 2011.

Kawulok, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound sophomore central defender, was selected as the West Coast Conference's defensive player of the year in 2011. Kawulok is the second player in school history to win the conference's defensive player of the year award, joining former goalkeeper Luis Robles (2006).

The Timbers selected midfielder Miguel Ibarra from the University of California-Irvine in the second round. The 5-7, 135-pound senior scored nine goal and added eight assists for the Anteaters in 2011.

The Timbers added goalkeeper Doug Herrick from St. Mary's University with their third round selection. The 6-3 senior from Seattle was selected to the all-West Coast Conference team.

Portland closed its selections by choosing midfielder Logan McDaniel from Loyola Marymount. The 5-10, 160-pound senior posted five assists in 2011.

PurplePrideTrumpet wrote:Ryan started at right back last night in the preseason match against San Jose. He went about 70 minutes, looked solid to me.

PurpleGeezer wrote:

PurplePrideTrumpet wrote:Ryan started at right back last night in the preseason match against San Jose. He went about 70 minutes, looked solid to me.

Canzano attributed the San Jose goal to a "rookie mistake" in the back.

any other rookies back there?

Portland’s young back line played a strong first half before a giveaway by rookie Andrew Jean-Baptiste led to an own goal off of Hanyer Mosquera for San Jose’s goal in the 59th minute……..

Rookie Ryan Kawoluk from the University of Portland, one of two unsigned players still on the preseason roster, played right back for the first 77 minutes before giving way to Lovel Palmer. Right back is perhaps the position with the least depth on the Timbers roster.

Kawoluk said he enjoyed his audition in front of more than 16,000 fans.

“They inspire you. When you hear them chanting, it makes you happy,” Kawoluk said. “It makes you want to work as hard as you can for those guys because they are paying to come see you. You want to send them home happy. I love that stage.”

Ryan Kawulok, 5.5 – Very promising effort from the unsigned right back. Something tells me that unsigned tag will be coming off shortly. Showed a pretty decent soccer IQ and very good physical tools. Has some touches he needs to refine to succeed at the MLS level, but given a couple years work he should be there. It is a little shocking, considering some of the garbage you see coming out of the second round of the SuperDraft at times, that a guy with the size and athleticism of Kawulok can slip into the Supplemental Draft.

Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC)
3/1/12 9:11 PM
GOAL Kawulok! Off a corner kick, the newly signed defender hammers home a shot off the bounce to level the score in the 78'. Score 1-1