BU's Keegan taken in MLS draft

1/22/2013 (Updated 10:59:25 PM)

VESTAL --  Jake Keegan, a recent Binghamton graduate who starred on the mens soccer team, has been drafted by the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer (MLS).

He was taken with the No. 43 pick overall and in the process, becomes the first Binghamton player to be drafted by an MLS club.

The first two rounds of the MLS draft are referred to as the Super Draft. Rounds three through six make up the supplemental draft. Keegan was chosen in the third round.

Its a great honor to be picked, Keegan said. Its a testament to the coaching staff at Binghamton and guys on the team that I would get noticed like this.

Philadelphia is entering its fourth season in MLS. In 2012, the Union finished eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 10-18-6 record. This year, Philadelphia opens up its season March 4 with a home game against Sporting Kansas City.

The Union competes in the 18,500-seat PPL Park in Chester, Pa. Its primary rivals are New York Red Bull and D.C. United.

This past fall, Keegan was named first-team all-conference by the America East and was a third-team NSCAA All-Region selection. In the classroom, he was selected to the America East All-Academic Team and was also named a second-team NSCAA Scholar All-American.

At the conclusion of the 2012 campaign, Keegan ranked No. 28 in the nation with 0.61 goals per game and was No. 32 with 1.44 points per match. In the America East Conference, Keegan ranked second in both statistical categories.

In the Binghamton record books, Keegan concluded his career with 28 goals, the most scored by a player during the programs 12-year NCAA Division I era. His 69 career points is also tops among the Bearcats Division I players. In the programs all-time history, which dates back to 1960, Keegan ranks sixth in both career goals and points.

(Courtesy Bearcats Athletics)

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