Corrado, Kotlov drafted to MLS

The legion of IU alumni in professional soccer grew by two Tuesday.

Former IU midfielders A.J. Corrado and Nikita Kotlov were selected in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft and will join their respective clubs for the upcoming 2014 season.

Corrado was chosen No. 47 overall by the San Jose Earthquakes, and Kotlov had his name called by the Portland Timbers with the No. 73 pick in the SuperDraft.

The two Indiana natives — Corrado from Zionsville Community High School, Kotlov from North Central High School in Indianapolis — started a combined 114 games in Cream and Crimson and were key contributors in the Hoosier midfield during the past few seasons.

They combined to score 32 goals and assisted in 47 more during their time at IU.
Corrado and Kotlov were starters on the 2012 NCAA College Cup-winning squad.
Before the draft, Corrado said joining the professional ranks would be a dream realized.

“It’s something you always dream about doing and really want to do,” he said. “It is surreal when you actually get the opportunity to do it. It’s pretty cool.”

Both players will join Hoosier alumni at their new clubs.

Timbers Coach Caleb Porter played at IU from 1994-97 and worked on former Coach Jerry Yeagley’s coaching staff from 2000-2005 before embarking on his head coaching career.

Corrado will join former IU forward Tommy Thompson as an Earthquakes newcomer.
Thompson signed a Homegrown contract with the club last week after one season at IU.

This year’s SuperDraft marked the second in a row in which multiple Hoosiers had their names called.

Forward Eriq Zavaleta was selected in the first round, No. 10 overall, by Seattle Sounders Football Club.

Goalkeeper Luis Soffner was taken by the New England Revolution in the second round, No. 36 overall, in 2013.

Kotlov will square off against former teammate Zavaleta in what has been called the country’s best soccer rivalry, a series of clashes between Pacific Northwest powers Portland and Seattle.

IU Coach Todd Yeagley, who played with MLS’ Columbus Crew from 1996-2002, said he will pass on what he learned from his experience — however outdated — to IU’s newest professional alumni.

“The league is a heck of a lot better than it was when I was playing, and the opportunities are harder to break into,” he said. “They have to be patient. They have to be hungry. They have to be extremely patient and coachable. Maybe it’s a new role to their team that they’re going to be pulled into and not worry about what decisions are being made.”

Yeagley said his staff has made every effort to mimic a professional environment in order to make players’ transitions more straightforward.

“They’re going to have to do everything in their power to prepare themselves on and off the field. That’s why we say we train as professionals now, so there’s not a shock to the system of what’s expected,” he said. “It’s a feather in the cap of the program.”

Follow reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293.