ST. LOUIS -- The Chivas USA coaching staff quadrupled their pleasure Thursday at the MLS SuperDraft in St. Louis. After having only one draft pick in 2008, head coach Preki and his staff picked up midfielder Michael Lahoud and then traded their second-round pick (19th overall) to their neighbors, the Los Angeles Galaxy, in exchange for left back Ante Jazic, the fifth pick in the third round and the fourth pick in the fourth round, Nos. 35 and 49 overall.
"We got [four] players. It was an OK day for us," said Preki.
Looking to boost their offensive production, Chivas USA chose Lahoud, a Wake Forest University, with the ninth overall pick. The 5-foot-8, 22-year-old midfielder scored 14 goals to go with 20 assists in his four-year stint at the school quickly becoming well-known for cultivating professional quality soccer players.
"I'm excited, speechless. It's everything I've ever dreamed of. Not a lot of kids get this chance growing up, and I'm just looking to make the most of it," said Lahoud after a brief conference with his new head coach.
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"I've heard great things about [Preki]. He has a great soccer mind, and I'm hoping to learn much from that," Lahoud added.
The sharp passing and pacy Lahoud is known for his ability to cover a lot of ground and go from defense to attack quickly. He is also versatile, anchoring the Deamon Deacons as the holding midfielder despite playing the position for the first time. His skills and mindset will be tested in his move from the East to southern California.
"He's a young, exciting player who can play different roles," said Preki. "He has a bright future, [but] it is going to be up to him to come into camp and be ready to challenge for a spot. ... We hope that he has the mentality required on this level."
"I really don't know what to expect from preseason, but I'm prepared for it," said Lahoud. "I had great preparation at Wake, and growing up I had the right people pulling for me. I'm happy to be in L.A., happy to be with Chivas and looking forward to helping them out any way possible."
Many pundits had predicted Chivas USA would shore up their goalkeeping position, which had become a questionable spot after Brad Guzan transferred to Aston Villa of the English Premier League late last season.
"They projected wrong," Preki said, confirming that he is comfortable with current netminders Dan Kennedy and Zach Thornton.
Instead, Chivas USA strengthened their backline by acquiring Jazic, a 32-year-old Canadian international who spent three seasons with the Galaxy playing 44 games and gaining three assists. The left back has been injury prone with 18 games being the most he has played in his three MLS seasons.
"We needed a left-sided player, an experienced guy whose been in the league for a while, a guy who knows how to attack," Preki stated. "We're pretty happy with the addition."
Chivas used their first acquired pick (35th overall) to add a second attacker in forward Kyle Christensen from the University of Denver. The 23-year-old played three seasons from 2003 to 2007, taking a two-year mission trip in between, scoring 21 goals and adding eight assists. Midfielder Jaime Franks, another Wake Forest product, was their final pick of the day.
"[Christensen] was one of the better guys at the combine," said Preki. "So we felt he had something and felt we needed to bring him in and give him a shot."
Of the 22-year-old Franks, Preki said, "I've watched him play a few times. He's an exciting player who has a good ability. He can be a really good soccer player."
After losing out to Real Salt Lake and the Kansas City Wizards in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs the last two seasons after first- and second-place finishes in the Western Conference, Chivas USA will begin their preseason on Jan. 26.
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