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The Supplemental Draft typically is even more hit or miss than the SuperDraft when it comes to acquired talent, making it difficult to judge success early into the preseason process, but the Philadelphia Union may have maximized their player returns from this year's edition.
Philadelphia had three picks in the first two rounds, five overall, and the team's focus was clear from the first pick onward. Head coach John Hackworth decided to go with familiar faces and defensive options throughout the Supplemental draft, starting off with West Virginia University - and formerly with Reading United AC - center back Eric Schoenle with the 12th overall selection.
Schoenle had been projected to go in the second round of this year's SuperDraft, but fell into the middle of the first round of the Supplemental Draft, formerly the latter rounds of the SuperDraft. A slight frame and questions about his physicality in a league like Major League Soccer forced him out of contention for many teams.
After Schone came Uriah Bentick, another center back and a former youth international with Trinidad and Tobago, with the 17th overall pick. He started in Liberty's defensive backline last year 18 times.
Bentick wasn't the end of the Union's defensive choices, as the team went with Princeton's Mark Linnville. The defender was not expected to be drafted at all, according to MLS's live coverage.
The Union went with creative and attacking players in the last two rounds, drafting Jake Keegan, who scored 16 goals in 16 games for the Westchester Flames (USL PDL) in 2011 and holds the Division I goal scoring record for Binghamton, with the 43rd pick in the Supplemental Draft.
The club's draft was rounded out with intriguing prospect Leo Fernandes, of Stony Brook, with the 62nd pick. Fernandes was an unheralded attacking midfielder from a small school who some didn't project as a draftee, but whose resume is laden with offensive statistics.
Fernandes "led the team in goals (9), assists (7), points (25) and shots (50)" in 2012, impressive stats for a striker, let alone an attacking midfielder.