Photo Credit: Victoria Klum
THE PLAYER TO BE NAMED LATER: The player to be named later in the trade with the New York Red Bulls for the Fire’s second round draft pick is midfielder Amando Moreno. Moreno, 23, scored 11 goals and four assists last season with New York Red Bulls II in 2018, including the match winner in the USL Eastern Conference semifinal. Prior to that, Moreno spent four seasons with Liga MX side Club Tijuana and second-division side Dorados de Sinaloa.
“Amando is a young player who has already played in more than 50 professional games in both the United States and Mexico,” said club president and general manager Nelson Rodriguez. “He drives hard to goal, is shifty and has an appetite for hard work. We think he will compete well in our environment.”
Moreno began his professional career as a Homegrown Player for the New York Red Bulls in 2013, signing his first professional contract after progressing through the club’s Academy system. During the 2013 MLS season, he made two appearances for the Red Bulls as the team claimed the 2013 MLS Supporters’ Shield.
At the international level, Moreno made two appearances for the U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team in 2015. Additionally, he earned a call in to the U.S. Men’s National Team’s training camp in May of 2016.
FIRE DRAFT PEOPLE: The Fire actually drafted players in the third and fourth rounds of the MLS SuperDraft which took place via conference call. With the 53rd overall pick, the Fire selected defender Ebenezer Ackon from Bowling Green. In two seasons with the Falcons, Ackon made 19 appearances (17 starts) as a defender, tallying five goals and three assists. During his senior season in 2018, Ackon was named to the All-Mid-American Conference First Team and the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Third Team. A native of Cape Coast, Ghana, Ackon led the team in scoring in 2018, tallying five goals. Ackon also spent one season with Lansing United in USL League Two, formerly known as the Premier Development League (PDL).
The next pick, 55th overall, was defender Grant Stoneman from Loyola Chicago. Stoneman spent the past three seasons (2016-18) with the Ramblers after beginning his collegiate career with the University of Wisconsin in 2014. Stoneman made 53 appearances (53 starts) across all three seasons for Loyola, tallying seven goals and one assist. While playing with the Ramblers, Stoneman became the first player in program history to earn First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) honors on three occasions (2016-18). Additionally, in his senior season in 2018, Stoneman was named MVC Defensive Player of the Year. It is the second consecutive year that the Fire have selected a player from Loyola with Eliot Collier joining the squad last season.
Finally, with the 77th overall pick, the Fire selected forward Mark Forrest from Lehigh. Forrest made 73 appearances (66 starts), tallying 41 goals and 21 assists during that stretch. Forrest’s senior season featured a noteworthy ending to his four-year collegiate career. In 2018, the Douglassville, PA, native was named a First-Team All-Atlantic Region honoree by the United Soccer Coaches, a First-Team Senior CLASS All-American and the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year for a second consecutive year.
“Today’s selections were made with the future in mind,” said Rodriguez. “We believe each of the three players selected today has a chance to make our roster but likely require some grooming in advance.”
OTHER LOCALS DRAFTED: Forward Kevin Rodriguez of Northern Illinois was selected 75th overall by Minnesota United and Valparaiso’s Rafael Mentzingen was selected 90th overall by Columbus Crew.
