Luis Barraza Selected By NYC FC In The 2019 MLS SuperDraft!

The 2018-19 school year keeps handing out historic moments to Marquette athletes and teams. On Friday, MLS conducted their yearly SuperDraft for all of the players entering the league from the collegiate ranks. MU’s Luis Barraza, the 2018 Big East Goalkeeper of the Year, was selected #12 overall in the SuperDraft by New York City FC.

It’s the highest ever selection for a Marquette player in the Superdraft, surpassing the #14 spot record held by Axel Sjoberg in the 2015 edition of the entry draft. Barraza is the fifth MU player to be selected in the SuperDraft, joining Sjoberg, Calum Mallace, Bryan Ciesiulka, and Charlie Lyon.

Barraza ranked in the top 10 in the country in save percentage and saves per game as a senior as he ended up tabbed as the best goalkeeper in the Big East and led the Golden Eagles back to the Big East tournament for the first time since 2014, and all the way to the tournament final for the first time since 2013. Barraza was particularly important to the Golden Eagles in their tournament matches, as both had to be settled by penalty kicks.

As far as his future with NYCFC goes, well, that’s up for debate, I suppose. Sean Johnson has been a fixture in MLS since he was drafted in 2010, making 176 appearances with the Chicago Fire and 64 since making the move to New York before the 2017 season. The 29 year old has made five appearances for the United States national team as well, and considering how Tim Howard has dominated the 21st century for the Stars and Stripes, making five appearances at keeper is pretty good. The point is that Barraza is seemingly looking at a backup situation at best to start, especially with NYCFC selecting keeper Jeff Caldwell with the #19 pick a year ago.

We’ll see what happens. To that end, be sure to poke your head over to Hudson River Blue, our SB Nation sister site covering everything related to The Pigeons.