Rojiblancos draft Los Angeles native and Big East Conference Midfielder of the Year

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, January 17, 2013) – Chivas USA today selected University of Connecticut midfielder Carlos Alvarez with the second-overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas. The 22-year-old Mexican-American from East Los Angeles started 21 games last season for the Huskies, recording seven goals and nine assists in his senior year. The 5-foot-10 Alvarez was named Big East Conference Midfielder of the Year while earning All-Big East First Team honors. Alvarez, a M.A.C Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2012, was called into the Under-20 U.S. national team in 2008 and Mexico’s U-20 national team in 2009.

“I’m happy to come back home and be with my family and happy to represent this jersey,” said Alvarez. “It’s something I’m proud of. [Head Coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola “El Chelis”] believed in me and I believe in this organization. I know how big this organization is going back to Chivas de Guadalajara. We need to build that winning mentality and hopefully with the help of Chelis and the philosophy that he has and the players that are going to represent the jersey we can be a hundred percent there.”

“He was a player that wanted to be with Chivas USA and we all wanted him to be here,” said Sanchez Sola. “We scouted a number of players at the combine and only a few, in my opinion, are ready to be in a starting 11 in this league. Carlos is one of them. He has a lot of character on the field. He is a player that has excellent ball control and attacks forward.”

The new Rojiblanco will report to Chivas USA on Saturday, Jan. 19, to start preseason camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. under the guidance of the newly-appointed Coach Sanchez Sola. Chivas USA hosts the Columbus Crew in its 2013 season opener on Saturday, March 2, at The Home Depot Center at 7:30 p.m. PT.

CARLOS ALVAREZ

School: University of Connecticut

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-10

Weight: 160 lbs

Date of Birth: 11/12/1990

Place of birth: East Los Angeles, Calif.

Hometown: East Los Angeles, Calif.

Citizenship: USA

COLLEGIATE RECORD

YR SCHOOL GP GS G A

2012 UCONN 21 21 7 9

2011 UCONN 22 21 6 8

2010 UCONN 20 20 4 14

2009 UCONN 19 19 3 11

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

College

2012: M.A.C Hermann Trophy semifinalist; Big East Midfielder of the Year; All-Big East First Team

2011: All-America Second Team and All-Northeast Region First Team honors from the NSCAA; All-Big East Second Team

2010: All-Big East First Team; NSCAA All-Northeast Region First Team

2009: Big East Rookie of the Year; All-Big East Third Team; All-Big East Rookie Team

High School

Bishop Mora Salesian (2008)

Led his team to four league titles, earned First Team All-CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) in 2007 and 2008.

Personal

Majored in Spanish and literature and culture

Club/National Team

Played for the LAFC in 2007 and 2008

Played for the Pateadores in 2006

U-20 U.S. National Team in August 2008 and U-20 Mexico National Team in March 2009

CHIVAS USA SELECTION IN 2013 MLS SUPERDRAFT

First Round: 2nd overall (Natural 1st round pick) Carlos Alvarez (University of Connecticut)

CHIVAS USA ALL-TIME FIRST ROUND SUPERDRAFT SELECTIONS

2005 2nd Overall Brad Guzan (University of South Carolina)

2006 5th Overall Sacha Kljestan (Seton Hall University)

2007 7th Overall John Cunliffe (Fort Lewis College)

2009 9th Overall Michael Lahoud (Wake Forest University)

2010 10th Overall Blair Gavin (University of Akron)

2011 4th Overall Zarek Valentin (University of Akron)

2011 14th Overall Victor Estupiñan (LDU Quito)

2012 5th Overall Casey Townsend (University of Maryland)

2013 2nd Overall Carlos Alvarez (University of Connecticut)

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