University of North Carolina Athletics
Lopez Selected 14th In MLS SuperDraft
January 17, 2013 | Men's Soccer
INDIANAPOLIS -- Sophomore midfielder Mikey Lopez became the 10th Tar Heel selected in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft since 2000 on Thursday when Sporting KC tabbed Lopez 14th overall.
Lopez appeared in 46 matches during his two-year career at North Carolina and garnered All-America honors during his sophomore campaign. The Mission, Texas, native was selected as the 2011 ACC Freshman of the Year for his play in addition to freshman All-America honors during UNC's national title run.
Lopez signed a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer at the conclusion of the 2012 season joining seven former Tar Heels to sign Generation adidas contracts.
The first round selection marks the fourth-straight year that North Carolina had a player drafted in the first round, the longest active streak of any school in NCAA. Lopez also becomes the sixth first round pick from UNC in the last four years, the second-most of any school.
Lopez becomes the latest member of Sporting KC with UNC ties as the club selected Michael Harrington with the third overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft and its top assistant coach, Kerry Zavagnin, starred for the Tar Heels from 1992-95.
Tar Heels In The Major League Soccer Draft
| Year | Round | Pick | Player | Team |
| 1996 | 15th | 141st | Todd Haskins | Columbus |
| 1996 | 1st | 2nd | Eddie Pope | D.C. United |
| 1997 | 1st | 6th | Temoc Suarez | Dallas |
| 1998 | 2nd | 14th | Carey Talley | D.C. United |
| 2000 | 3rd | 30th | Kerry Zavagnin | Kansas City |
| 2001 | 1st | 1st | Chris Carrieri | San Jose |
| 2001 | 2nd | 20th | Eddie Robinson | San Jose |
| 2001 | 5th | 50th | Caleb Norkus | D.C. United |
| 2002 | 2nd | 16th | Danny Jackson | Colorado |
| 2002 | 4th | 47th | Chris Leitch | Columbus |
| 2003 | 1st | 5th | David Stokes | D.C. United |
| 2003 | 3rd | 24th | Logan Pause | Chicago |
| 2003 | 4th | 38th | Matt Crawford | Colorado |
| 2005 | 2nd | 13th | Jamie Watson | Real Salt Lake |
| 2005 | 2nd | 20th | Marcus Storey | Columbus |
| 2005 | 4th | 48th | Tim Merritt | D.C. United |
| 2006 | 1st | 6th | Dax McCarty | FC Dallas |
| 2007 | 1st | 3rd | Michael Harrington | Kansas City |
| 2007 | 2nd | 26th | Corey Ashe | Houston |
| 2007 | 3rd | 36th | Justin Hughes | Colorado |
| 2007 | 4th | 49th | Ben Hunter | Columbus |
| 2008 | 4th | 49th | Scott Campbell | Colorado |
| 2009 | 2nd | 27th | Brian Shriver | FC Dallas |
| 2010 | 1st | 5th | Zach Loyd | FC Dallas |
| 2010 | 4th | 55th | Jordan Graye | D.C. United |
| 2011 | 1st | 9th | Jalil Anibaba | Chicago |
| 2011 | 1st | 18th | Eddie Ababio | Colorado |
| 2011 | 2nd | 23rd | Michael Farfan | Philadelphia |
| 2011 | 2nd | 24th | Stephen McCarthy | New England |
| 2012 | 1st | 11th | Matt Hedges | FC Dallas |
| 2012 | 1st | 17th | Enzo Martinez | Real Salt Lake |
| 2013 | 1st | 14th | Mikey Lopez | Sporting KC |
| 32 total selections |
