University of North Carolina Athletics
Ueltschey Drafted by Richmond of the A-League
February 15, 2002 | Men's Soccer
Feb. 15, 2002
RICHMOND, Va. - The A-League held its annual College Draft on Wednesday with the Richmond Kickers holding four of the 42 picks. The Kickers used the first three of those picks to solidify their goalkeeping needs after the departure of long-time Kickers net-minder Mike McGinty to D.C. United of Major League Soccer (MLS). While Ronnie Pascale returns to the Kickers for his third straight year, the Kickers were looking to fill the role of backup goalkeeper.
Former Carolina keeper Michael Ueltschey was one of the Kickers' selections.
With their first pick, the 3rd overall in the open rounds, the Kickers chose goalkeeper Armando Femia from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Femia recently played in the Umbro Select All-Star Classic and was named to the First Team All Mid-Continent Conference for the third straight season.
With the 18th pick in the first open round, the Kickers then selected Ueltschey. In his senior season, Ueltschey broke the school record for career shutouts on November 3rd when he shutout sixth-ranked Clemson, 1-0, in Chapel Hill. He finished his career with 28.5 shutouts.
The Kickers last pick in the first open round (#24 overall) was used to select University of Richmond goalkeeper Shawn Alexander. Alexander led the Spiders to a 13-6-2 record in his senior season, tied a Richmond single-season record with 10 shutouts and was named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year.
Finally, with the 42nd and last pick, the Kickers selected defender Kevin Sakuda of Duke University. Sakuda was selected in Sundays MLS draft by the San Jose Earthquakes. If the 'Quakes waive him, the Kickers would have the first right to negotiations.
"This draft reflects the quality of our existing squad," declares head coach Leigh Cowlishaw. "At this time we don't need to add any field players. Our top three draft picks all showed well at the Umbro Select combine in just a short period of time."
"With Mike McGinty going to MLS we need to fill a goalkeeper slot," says General Manager Billy Hallock. "We feel like these were the best goalkeepers available in the draft and in reality, with our roster being veteran-heavy, we had the ability to concentrate on that one position."
Ueltschey allowed just 0.73 goals per game against a schedule that included nine nationally-ranked opponents in 2001. He posted 12 shutouts as a senior, setting the single-season school record. Started all 25 games in 2001, leading the Tar Heels to the NCAA Championship.
He Led his high school team (Jackson Academy) to a Mississippi state championship in 1998. He earned team captain, MVP and state tournament MVP honors his senior year.
The A-League, a Division II league with 18 teams from coast-to-coast in the US and Canada, is the highest level in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) system. The USL is the official developmental system of Major League Soccer (MLS). The Kickers are affiliated with DC United and the New England Revolution of MLS.
