Colorado Rapids pick Syracuse’s Liam Callahan in MLS SuperDraft 2nd round

For the third straight season, Syracuse Men’s Soccer has sent two players to MLS. Redshirt Senior Liam Callahan was selected 24th overall by the Colorado Rapids in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft on Friday.

Callahan, originally a transfer from Villanova, was team captain this season and a solid contributor at both midfield and defense. Neither he or Nanco received General Adidas contracts and Callahan was a surprise pick for the Rapids. (Most boards I read didn’t have going, if at all, until tomorrow’s fourth round.) Colorado obviously likes his intangibles and positional flexibility.

Perhaps the biggest surprise for Syracuse was that Forward Chris Nanco’s name never got called. He led Syracuse in scoring this season with seven goals and one assist on the campaign and was voted first team All-ACC and third team All-South Region. Neither Nanco nor Callahan received a Generation Adidas contract (guaranteeing a draft spot) but Chris was invited to the MLS Combine that took place this past week in LA. Most scouts thought his speed was on full display this past week, but obviously scouts were not happy he failed to register a point in the exhibition matches played.

This is now three straight campaigns that the Orange have sent at least one non-Generation Adidas player to the MLS (Skylar Thomas, ‘14 & Ben Polk, ‘15). Nanco could still hear his name in rounds three or four of the MLS SuperDraft that happen via teleconference on Tuesday.