Indiana University Athletics
FC Cincinnati Selects Celentano in MLS SuperDraft
1/11/2022 2:25:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – With the second overall pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, FC Cincinnati selected Indiana men's soccer junior goalkeeper Roman Celentano on Tuesday (Jan. 11).
At No. 2, Celentano ties the highest pick in program history with former teammate Jack Maher, picked by Nashville in 2020, and Nick Garcia, selected by Kansas City in 2000.
"I'm excited to be going to FC Cincinnati," Celentano said. "I'm fortunate to be in this position. Indiana has done a lot for me in my development, taking a chance on me early on and letting me grow into the player I wanted to become. It's been an honor playing at Indiana, and I'm looking forward to my next chapter at FC Cincinnati."
"I'm really excited for Roman," IU men's soccer head coach Todd Yeagley said. "He's worked hard for this opportunity. To be drafted by FC Cincinnati, a team in the region, and to have the IU connection with [FC Cincinnati head coach] Pat Noonan makes it special. Roman's huge upside and strong character are great building blocks for putting a team together, and we're excited to see Roman flourish in the years ahead."
In Cincinnati Celentano joins former Indiana All-American Pat Noonan, who was named the club's head coach in December. Noonan (1999-02) was a two-time MAC Hermann Trophy runner-up during his time in cream and crimson and helped Indiana to three NCAA College Cup appearances, two national title matches and the program's fifth national championship as a freshman in 1999.
Celentano's selection marks the fifth straight season a Hoosier has been selected within the top 10 picks of the MLS SuperDraft, following Josh Penn (2021), Jack Maher (2020), Griffin Dorsey (2019) and Mason Toye (2018). Combining 45 draft picks and eight homegrown contracts, 53 total Hoosiers have been selected into MLS.
In the 27-year history of the draft, Celentano is just the third goalkeeper drafted within the first two picks and the highest since eight-year veteran and two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake went No. 1 overall to the Philadelphia Union in 2014. American international and 18-year professional Brad Guzan is the only other top-two selection.
The first Indiana goalkeeper to earn a first-round selection, Celentano is also the fifth IU netminder selected all-time and the first since Luis Soffner in 2013.
A junior, Celentano signed a Generation adidas contract with MLS that allowed him to forgo his remaining eligibility with IU and enter the draft. In three seasons in Bloomington, Celentano owned a career 37-10-5 record while allowing just 33 goals in 52 matches. His 28 career shutouts rank tied for ninth in program history.
A two-time All-American, Celentano became the first-ever repeat Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year after earning the awards in back-to-back seasons, 2020-21 and 2021. He is also a two-time Top Drawer Soccer Best XI first team and Big Ten All-Tournament team selection and earned the 2020 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Tournament honor.
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At No. 2, Celentano ties the highest pick in program history with former teammate Jack Maher, picked by Nashville in 2020, and Nick Garcia, selected by Kansas City in 2000.
"I'm excited to be going to FC Cincinnati," Celentano said. "I'm fortunate to be in this position. Indiana has done a lot for me in my development, taking a chance on me early on and letting me grow into the player I wanted to become. It's been an honor playing at Indiana, and I'm looking forward to my next chapter at FC Cincinnati."
"I'm really excited for Roman," IU men's soccer head coach Todd Yeagley said. "He's worked hard for this opportunity. To be drafted by FC Cincinnati, a team in the region, and to have the IU connection with [FC Cincinnati head coach] Pat Noonan makes it special. Roman's huge upside and strong character are great building blocks for putting a team together, and we're excited to see Roman flourish in the years ahead."
In Cincinnati Celentano joins former Indiana All-American Pat Noonan, who was named the club's head coach in December. Noonan (1999-02) was a two-time MAC Hermann Trophy runner-up during his time in cream and crimson and helped Indiana to three NCAA College Cup appearances, two national title matches and the program's fifth national championship as a freshman in 1999.
Celentano's selection marks the fifth straight season a Hoosier has been selected within the top 10 picks of the MLS SuperDraft, following Josh Penn (2021), Jack Maher (2020), Griffin Dorsey (2019) and Mason Toye (2018). Combining 45 draft picks and eight homegrown contracts, 53 total Hoosiers have been selected into MLS.
In the 27-year history of the draft, Celentano is just the third goalkeeper drafted within the first two picks and the highest since eight-year veteran and two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake went No. 1 overall to the Philadelphia Union in 2014. American international and 18-year professional Brad Guzan is the only other top-two selection.
The first Indiana goalkeeper to earn a first-round selection, Celentano is also the fifth IU netminder selected all-time and the first since Luis Soffner in 2013.
A junior, Celentano signed a Generation adidas contract with MLS that allowed him to forgo his remaining eligibility with IU and enter the draft. In three seasons in Bloomington, Celentano owned a career 37-10-5 record while allowing just 33 goals in 52 matches. His 28 career shutouts rank tied for ninth in program history.
A two-time All-American, Celentano became the first-ever repeat Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year after earning the awards in back-to-back seasons, 2020-21 and 2021. He is also a two-time Top Drawer Soccer Best XI first team and Big Ten All-Tournament team selection and earned the 2020 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Tournament honor.
@IndianaMSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
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