The Sounders Friday selected two players on the first day of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft at the Philadelphia Convention center, taking Seattle University midfielder Alex Roldan — younger brother of Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan — with the 22nd pick in the first round and Duke defender Markus Fjortoft with the 22nd choice of the second round (45th overall).
Roldan, 21, started 82 games in four years at Seattle University, finishing his college career with 18 goals and 17 assists. In 2017, he scored six goals and led the Redhawks with eight assists, including assisting on the game-winning overtime goal at the University of Washington, where his brother played two seasons, in the NCAA Tournament Nov. 16. In 2016, he led his team with eight goals, including six game winners, in addition to three assists.
The Roldans are from Pico Rivera, CA.
Fjortoft, 24, played four seasons at Duke, starting all 74 games while recording seven goals and two assists and earning team Most Valuable Defensive Player honors in both 2016 and 2017. Prior to his time at Duke, Fjortoft, whose father, Jan Age, earned 71 caps with Norway, played on an academy team for Norwegian club Baerum SK.
The SuperDraft concludes Sunday via conference call. The Sounders hold one pick in the third round (68th overall selection).
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We needed a tall younger defender to enforce in the back pitch. SU has a great coach and program. Hope the younger Rodan has the same motor and guts to go after it as his brother does in the midfield position.