Pacific FC believes central-midfielder Luca Ricci, from the U Sports champion Université de Montréal Carabines, can make an immediate impact because of his pedigree as a CF Montreal MLS Academy product with pro game experience already with Phoenix Rising of the USL.
The defending Canadian Premier League-champion Tridents, selecting last, chose the 23-year-old native of LaSalle, Que., with the eighth and final pick of the first round of the CPL-U Sports draft conducted Thursday night.
“Luca has an excellent background and has been in a professional environment and that is very interesting to us,” said PFC technical director and assistant coach James Merriman.
José Cunha from Cape Breton University went first overall to Atlético Ottawa followed by fellow-Caper Kairo Coore second to FC Edmonton. The HFX Wanderers of Halifax took Christopher Campoli of Ontario Tech University third overall, Valour FC of Winnipeg selected Raine Lyn of Cape Breton fourth, York United chose Christian Rossi of Trinity Western fifth, Cavalry FC selected Caden Rogozinski out of Mount Royal University sixth and Forge FC of Hamilton nabbed Guillaume Pianelli from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières seventh overall.
Pacific FC chose Mount Douglas Rams graduate Rees Goertzen, a third-year defender with the University of Victoria Vikes, in the second round at 16th overall. The six-foot-two defender is a former member of the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency Program and Vancouver Island Wave.
“Rees’ athleticism and versatility makes him a bright prospect,” said Merriman.
Goertzen can’t wait to get his first taste of the pros.
“My dream is to play pro soccer so there was a flood of emotions in being drafted,” said Goertzen, a UVic psychology major. “I believe I am an athletic centre-back with speed, a vertical game, and technical ability to play the ball out from the back, combined with a tremendous desire to win.”
Ricci, Goertzen and the 14 other draftees will be invited to their respective teams’ CPL preseason training camps. They are eligible to sign U Sports development contracts for the upcoming season. Those contracts allow student-athletes with U Sports eligibility remaining to sign with a CPL pro team while retraining their U Sports eligibility.
CORNER KICKS: PFC announced captain and Canada-capped midfielder Jamar Dixon, starting goalkeeper Callum Irving and Canada U-23 defender Thomas Meilleur will return this season. “Those are three big leaders in our locker-room,” said Merriman. … Irish midfielder Ollie Bassett, back-up goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer and substitute defenders Robert Boskovic and Duran Lee are departing. It was earlier announced that high-scoring Terran Campbell and CPL top U-21 midfielder Alessandro Hojabrpour have bolted to sign with rival Forge FC.
