Garcia selected in draft

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Irving Garcia, a two-time men’s soccer All-American at UC Irvine, was drafted by Red Bull New York in Thursday’s Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

Garcia, a forward and midfielder who was named Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Year after leading conference players in points (25) and assists (nine), while finishing second with eight goals, was chosen in the fourth round, No. 50 overall.

A two-time first-team all-conference performer, Garcia, a former All-American at Javapai Community College in Arizona, led the Anteaters to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, the only postseason trips in the program’s history.

UCI won the regular season and conference tournament titles in 2008 and claimed the conference tournament crown again in 2009. The Anteaters advanced to the NCAA round of 16 in 2008 and were eliminated in the second round in 2009.

Garcia had seven goals and nine assists as a junior.

He is the fifth UCI player drafted by the MLS, the fourth in the last four seasons.

— From staff reports