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Major League Soccer conluded rounds 3 and 4 of the 2014 SuperDraft this afternoon. The Chicago Fire did not have any picks in the 3rd round due to the trade for Quincy Amarikwa last off season, but the Fire did have three picks (61st, 65th and 75th overall) in the 4th round.
Below are the three newest members of the Chicago Fire.
Zach Bolden - Midfielder - Denver University
With their first pick in the 4th round (4th in the round, 61st overall), the Fire selected Zach Bolden from Denver University. The Fire received this pick in the Daniel Paladini trade from the Columbus Crew.
WHAT COACHES SAY: "Wide midfielder on left or right side (right-footed) ... I like him. We kept him quiet this year, but last year he was very dynamic ... He's the type of player who had breakaway speed and could be quite direct and cause you trouble. Good player. ... Gets to end line. Feels comfortable serving balls both feet. ... Can finish with both feet coming inside going back stick ... More of a winger in a 4-3-3 system or in a 4-4-2 system that plays with wingers ... Defensively he can do the job but he needs to be better at it ... He can pop out wide and come inside and find pockets ... Not a burner. He's got a deceptive change of pace, but he's not slow by any means ... He has more soccer in him than just being a slasher ... First touch is good. Brings down balls ... Technique is clean in possession ... Very competent soccer player and athleticism is good ... Majority of his goals came from top of 18 ... Not a flashy guy, but he's a hard worker. Good at simple things."
COLLEGE: Denver University ... 2013: Tied school record for goals in a single season (10), also registering 9 assists on the year ... Led Summit League in both categories and was voted the conference's Offensive Player of the Year ... 2012: Netted 5 goals and a team-record 10 assists ... His 10 helpers with good for 7th in the nation ... 2011: Started all 19 matches with 2 goals and 2 assists ... 2010: Played 10 games as a freshman.
Kadeem Dacres - Midfielder - University of Maryland-Baltimore County
For their natural pick in the 4th round (8th in the round, 65th overall), the Fire selected Kadeem Dacres.
WHAT THE COACHES SAY: "He's tough. Good body: Athletic ... Hard player. You knew he was going to bring it with everything he had. ... Good wide left, tricky, fast, strong, tough. Good feet. Good player ... Always had good skill and now has good edge to him... Explosive ... He's fantastic ... Like a pro player on the field ... Played wide left against us ... The moment he gets moving with the ball, it's so tough. He gets past the first player easily ... He's got power. Makes good choices ... Out wide it works better for him ... Very good with both feet. I'd say he's right-footed (hits ball harder) but I've seen him do everything with his left."
COLLEGE (University of Maryland-Baltimore County): Spent time at Mercer Community College in New Jersey before moving to UMBC for the 2011-12 school year, though he did not begin his Retrievers playing career until the following year … 2013: Scored seven goals and four assists in 19 starts for UMBC … Named America East Midfielder of the year and first team all-conference … NSCAA All-Northeast Region First team ... Ranked as the No. 3 player in the America East Conference by TopDrawerSoccer.com ... 2012: Netted five goals (three game winners) and three assists in 22 games (all starts) for the Retrievers …. UMBC was undefeated (5-0-0) in games where he scored … Made America East All-Conference second team and All-Tournament Team … 2010: NSCAA Junior College First Team All-American at Mercer County … Scored 14 goals and added six assists during his two-year tenure at MCCC.
Bryan Ciesiulka - Midfielder - Marquette University
And for their final pick in the draft (via Real Salt Lake in the Kwame Watson-Siribe trade), the Fire selected Bryan Ciesiulka (pronounced Sha-SHULL-kah) from Marquette (18th in the round, 75th overall).
COACHES' BREAKDOWN: "A little guy in the mid - holding mid - I think highly of him. Reminds me of Richie Williams back in the day. Can improve positionally, but very good in the attack... He's why Marquette has been able to get good in midfield. Small, compact, very mobile. Box-to-box. Holds up very well, can twist and turn, but also pass well to release pressure. Could be more productive in goalscoring, but his best position is probably #8 because he can hold the ball so well and suck a lot of guys in.... He's a good little college soccer player. Physically MLS would be tough, and might not be able to handle it athletically. He's skilled, good on the ball, but is he good enough to play that position in the league? Doesn't have the range to play out wide because he lacks pace. ... Like him. He's the best player in their group. Most ideas, ability, technical ability. Question is where he plays. Smaller guy, more technical. Maybe he can play wide? Wide left coming on his right foot... Raised over 30K and organized 300 people to spend a day 110,000 meals to feed malnourished children in Haiti... There has apparently been some interest from teams in Scandinavia."
COLLEGE: 2013: Finalist for the Senior CLASS Award ... Finished the season with two assists in 15 games... Missed six matches due to a concussion suffered late in MU's season opener at Milwaukee (8/30); made his return to the pitch in Big East opener vs. Xavier (9/28) ... First Team All-Big East, and co-Big East Midfielder of the Year... Three-year MU co-captain ... 2012: Member of Chi Alpha Sigma (National Collegiate Athlete Honor Society) ... BIG EAST All-Academic Team ... Recorded an assist in four consecutive games, including the game-winning assist to Andy Huftalin in a 2-1 double-overtime win over Wisconsin (Sept. 26) ... Named to the USL Premier Development League All-Central Conference Team as a member of the Chicago Fire PDL squad ... 2011: BIG EAST All-Academic Team ... One of two MU players to start and play in all 19 games for the Golden Eagles ... Recorded five assists, which was tied for 10th in the BIG EAST, and scored one goal during his sophomore campaign ... Logged nearly 1,800 minutes of playing time in 2011 ... Played for the Chicago Fire PDL team during the summer along with MU teammate Calum Mallace... 2010: Was one of four freshmen to find the net in 2010 ... Finished season with 1,084 minutes, the second highest for the freshmen class ... Ended the season third on the team with seven points and three goals...
There is not a highlight reel of Bryan, but there is this video from Marquette Athletics showing him doing charity work.
