Columbus Crew SC drafted defender Sergio Campbell (left) of UConn with the 19th overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Forward Sagi Lev-Ari (right) of CSU-Northridge was drafted in the second round with the 35th pick overall by the Black & Gold. Photo/Columbus Crew SC
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]olumbus Crew SC selected Sergio Campbell and Sagi Lev-Ari in the opening rounds of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft Thursday afternoon.
After taking a five-minute time out, Crew SC traded their first round pick for Colorado’s 19th overall pick later in the round and future considerations. The Black & Gold selected Sergio Campbell as the club’s first draft choice.
“It was an incredible experience,” Campbell said about being drafted to Crew SC. “Everyone dreams of being drafted and playing professional soccer. I talked to them (Crew SC) at the combine and they had great things to say. I know they have a good fan base and they always try to play good soccer.”
Campbell, a towering defender standing at 6-foot-4 and nearly 200 pounds native to Jamaica, spent the previous three collegiate seasons with UConn. He was a 2014 American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the All-Conference First Team in 2013 and 2014.
The defender began his college career at Central Arkansas where he saw eight starts. Campbell transferred at the start of the 2012 season to UConn and started in all 64 matches for the team through that span. That year, Campbell helped lead a UConn defense to 12 shutouts. UConn would repeat that feat in 2013.
“Sergio Campbell is physically dominating,” said Sporting Director and Head Coach for Crew SC, Gregg Berhalter. “He was one of the most agile centerbacks in the Draft. He likes to pass the ball and he’ll fit right into our system and gives us a little added height to our backline.”
Berhalter added that Campbell has a vertical leap of over 30 inches, making him a fierce force in the backfield.
“At UConn, our fan base is crazy and I heard that it’s similar there,” Campbell said when asked about what he expects from Crew SC fans.
Campbell continued to compare the style of play at UConn to that of Columbus, saying that both keep the ball on the ground and moving.
“(Columbus) try to play good soccer,” he said. “They try to keep the ball and they don’t kick the ball a lot. They try to keep it on the ground a lot and move it around. It’s similar to what we do at UConn.”
Lev-Ari was selected in the second round by Crew SC with the 35th overall draft choice. The forward joins Columbus after playing three seasons with California State Northridge. With the Matadors, Lev-Ari totaled 42 goals in 64 appearances and 60 starts. In each season, he notched double-digit tallies. He was named All-Big West Conference First Team in 2013 and 2014.
“I was really excited,” Lev-Ari said. “I was looking forward to getting drafted by Columbus Crew and I am glad that happened. I am really, really excited. I can’t wait for my first practice with the team and to meet my teammates.”
The forward said that he talked to Berhalter and his staff at the combine, noting how he thought they seemed like good coaches with a lot of good experience. Lev-Ari added that as a forward upon hearing about Columbus owning possession 32 games out of 33, it sounded really good to him.
“That speaks perfect to me,” Lev-Ari said. “They’ll send a forward to finish from crosses and stuff. I saw some of the games and I saw the possession and I really, really liked it.”
When asked about his style of play, Lev-Ari described himself as a finisher, and Berhalter agrees with that statement.
“Lev-Ari is a goal scorer. All he wants to do is put the ball in the back of the net, which is something you can’t teach,” Berhalter said of the forward. “To add to that, he was one of the best athletes at the MLS combine. We think his qualities will fit very well into our style of play.”
In 2013, Lev-Ari recorded 16 goals and six assists – both career highs – for the Matadors and was awarded with an NSCAA/Continental Tire First Team All-American honor. He was also a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy.
Before transferring to CSU-Northridge, Lev-Ari played one season at Monroe College where he helped his team to a second-place NJCAA Division I national finish.
