PHILADELPHIA, PA – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today that the club has selected striker Mamadou Diouf with the 30th overall selection in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.
"Sitting down with him and speaking to him, he’s very humble and he’s honoured to be a footballer," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. "He’ll get a chance. I see him as a centre forward or a wider player. He’s got fantastic quick feet for a big guy, and he’s a diamond in the rough.”
Whitecaps FC striker Mamadou Diouf
- 36 goals and 10 assists in 74 appearances with Huskies
- 2013 BIG East Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
- Scored team-high 15 goals in 2012
- Twice named to ALL-BIG EAST first team
<a href="//www.youtube.com/embed/M3I4lj9DfV8"></a> |
<b>Diouf on Vancouver: "That's the place I wanted to be"</b> |
Diouf, 23, joins Whitecaps FC after four seasons with the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) American Athletic Conference. In total, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound striker scored 36 goals and added 10 assists in 74 career appearances with the Huskies.
After being named the BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, an early-season injury limited Diouf to 16 appearances in 2013. As a senior, the dynamic striker still managed to record two goals and five assists to help the Huskies reach the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer quarterfinals for the second straight season. He was also a candidate for the 2013 Senior CLASS award, which is awarded to an NCAA Division I player who demonstrated excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
In 2012, Diouf scored a team-high 15 goals and averaged 1.52 points per game in a year that saw him recognized as an ALL-BIG EAST first-team all-star, a NSCAA second team All-American, and a College Soccer News second team All-American.
Diouf was also named to the ALL-BIG EAST first team in 2011, when he started all 25 matches and scored 13 goals as a sophomore. His 13 goals were second in the BIG EAST that year, while his 28 points ranked third in the conference.
Also of note, Diouf was named to Top Drawer Soccer’s National Team of the Week after tallying both of UConn’s goals in a victory over Monmouth in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Division I Tournament – one of his four multi-goal performances in 2011.
Originally from Dakar, Senegal, Diouf began his collegiate career in 2010 and scored the game-winning goal against St. Francis in his first-ever match. Despite missing eight matches due to injury, Diouf went on to score six goals as a freshman and was named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie team for his efforts.
Mamadou Diouf
Position: Striker
Height: 6-01
Weight: 170 pounds
Date of Birth: September 15, 1990, in Dakar, Senegal
Citizenship: Senegal
Status: International
Last Club: University of Connecticut Huskies
How Acquired: Selected 30th overall (second round) in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC on January 16, 2014
Whitecaps FC 2014 season tickets start at just $349, subject to applicable fees. The 'Caps are also offering a flexible range of ticket products, including half-season tickets ($244), 5-packs ($149), student season tickets ($199), and a youth soccer half-season ticket ($100). For more information on all Whitecaps FC ticket options, call 604.669.9283 ext. 2 or visitwhitecapsfc.com/tickets.
