The Houston Dynamo selected two players at the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, presented by adidas, earlier today.
Houston held one pick in the first round and selected left back Sam Junqua from the University of California, Berkeley. In Round Two, Houston acquired the 33rd overall pick from D.C. United in a trade for goalkeeper Chris Seitz. The Dynamo used that pick on right back Andrew Samuels from the University of Maryland.
“We couldn't be any happier with how the draft turned out today,” said Dynamo Senior Vice President and General Manager Matt Jordan. “There is a lot of hard work and preparation that goes into to getting to this point, and both our first team and reserve team staffs did an outstanding job getting us ready. We have two professional teams that we are continually thinking about with the Houston Dynamo and RGV FC and this was a collective effort.”
Junqua saw action in 68 games with 45 starts during his four-year career at the University of California, Berkeley. The left back tallied three assists with the Golden Bears and earned an All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention in 2018. The Saratoga, Calif. native joined the U-18 U.S. Men’s National Team in 2013, and was named to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy West Conference Best XI for the 2012/2013 season.
Samuels captained Maryland to the 2018 NCAA National Championship with the University of Maryland on Dec. 9. The defender played in 78 games for the Terps with 51 starts during his four-year career. Off the field, Samuels won back-to-back Big 10 Conference Sportsmanship Awards in 2017 and 2018.
Houston holds the 56th overall pick in Round Three, which will take place via a teleconference on Monday, Jan. 14.
