Philadelphia Union Select Three Players In MLS SuperDraft

CHESTER, Pa. (Jan. 21, 2018) – Philadelphia Union selected midfielder Mike Catalano with the 54th overall pick, forward Aidan Apodaca with the 55th overall pick and midfielder Matt Danilack with the 77th overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft on Sunday afternoon. 

Catalano, 22, played four seasons at the University of Wisconsin. He started 17 matches as a freshman, while recording the third most minutes played for Wisconsin in a campaign that saw him earn a Big 10 All-Freshman Team honor. Catalano finished his career with the Badgers with 67 games played, 19 goals, five assists, and 43 points.

Apodaca, 21, appeared in 70 matches in four seasons at California Baptist University. Apodaca led all divisions of NCAA soccer with 29 goals in 2017 and was named NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner's Association Player of the Year. In his freshman season, Apodaca was named the 2014 PacWest Freshman of the Year and picked up All-PacWest second team honors. He grabbed All-PacWest first team and D2CCA All-West Region second team honors while his six game-winning goals led the PacWest and put him eighth overall in all of NCAA Division II.

Danilack, 22, appeared in 73 matches in four seasons at Dartmouth. He started every match over his senior season and finished with the second highest goal total for Dartmouth. Danilack was selected First Team All-Ivy League in three consecutive seasons, from his sophomore through senior years, and he was an Ivy League Honorable Mention his freshman season.

Union players report for preseason entrance physicals tomorrow, January 22 and will resume on-field training Tuesday, January 23. A full training schedule for the week, complete with media availability information, will be disseminated tomorrow morning.

TRANSACTIONS: Philadelphia Union select midfielder Mike Catalano (third round, 54th overall), forward Aidan Apodaca (third round, 55th overall) and forward Matt Danilack (fourth round, 77th overall) in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft

Name: Mike Catalano
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 194
Born: September 11, 1995
Hometown: Roselle, IL
Selected: 54th overall pick in 2018 MLS SuperDraft
Previous Experience: University of Wisconsin (2014-2017)

Name: Aidan Apodaca
Position: Forward
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 175
Born: May 24, 1996
Hometown: Cucamonga, CA
Selected: 55th overall pick in 2018 MLS SuperDraft
Previous Experience: California Baptist University (2014-2017)

Name: Matt Danilack
Position: Forward
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 185
Born: January 17, 1996
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Selected: 77th overall pick in 2018 MLS SuperDraft
Previous Experience: Dartmouth (2014-2017)