PHILADELPHIA, PA - Iona College men's soccer senior midfielder Ignacio Maganto was selected with the final pick of the first round, 21st overall, by the LA Galaxy during the 2015 Major League Soccer SuperDraft Thursday afternoon at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Maganto is the first draftee in program history.
A four-year standout for the Gaels, Maganto appeared in 70 games for the Maroon & Gold, registering 27 goals and 14 assists for a total of 68 points. In the Iona record books, Maganto sits fourth all-time in goals, sixth in assists and third in points. Maganto was a three-time NSCAA All-Region selection during his career at Iona, and a four-time All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference honoree.
Maganto was the MAAC leader in points in 2014, tallying 27 on 11 goals and five assists. His 11 goals also led the MAAC, while his five assists ranked fourth. He ranked 15th overall in the nation in points, and his 11 goals were 17th most. His 1.5 points per game average was 11th best in the country, and first in the MAAC.
Maganto raised his draft stock with a standout performance at this past weekend's MLS Combine. Playing for Team Predator, Maganto tallied an assist off a corner kick, a familiar sight for Iona fans, in his squad's final matchup against adiZero.
Earlier at the Combine, a first day performance prompted Sam Stejskal of MLSSoccer.com to select Maganto as one of three "Stock Up" players. He was also named one of the top five central midfield draft prospects by MLSSoccer.com. Prior to the draft, Maganto trained with New York City FC and in the past has spent time training with Manchester City in England.
For his efforts this past season, Maganto earned MAAC Offensive Player of the Year honors, was a First Team All-MAAC selection and was named to the NSCAA All-Northeast Region and ECAC All-Star First Teams.
In December, Maganto was named a 2014 NSCAA Scholar All-American for his dual accomplishments on the field and in the classroom. A Second Team selection, he is the first player in program history to earn the honor.
In the classroom, Maganto, an international business major, is a three-time MAAC Academic Honor Roll and MAAC All-Academic Team selection.
Maganto is the ninth player in league history drafted by the MLS, and first SuperDraft selection since Milos Kocic of Loyola University Maryland was selected in the second round of the 2009 SuperDraft.
The most decorated club in league history, the Galaxy, under the direction of head coach Bruce Arena, claimed their fifth MLS Cup a season ago. Former and current members of the club include David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane and Robbie Rogers.