Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Piatczyc Selected by New York Red Bulls in MLS Draft
January 14, 2019 04:05 PM | Men's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University men's soccer senior midfielder Joey Piatczyc has been drafted by the New York Red Bulls in the fourth round of the 2019 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
Piatczyc was selected with the 12th pick in the fourth round and 84th overall.
"I am very excited to join the New York Red Bulls, and I am looking forward to a great opportunity," Piatczyc said. "I can't wait to join one of the best organizations in the MLS and continue my playing career with NYRB. Thank you to Marlon and everyone at West Virginia for helping me get to this point, and I am excited to take the next step in my career in New York."
A native of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Piatczyc is the 11th Mountaineer to be drafted in the MLS Draft and the ninth in coach Marlon LeBlanc's tenure.
"Congratulations to Joey on his selection to the New York Red Bulls," LeBlanc said. "He certainly fits the Red Bulls' style of play, and I'm sure he's going to excel in that environment. Red Bull is a first-class organization that's renowned for playing a great brand of soccer, and he couldn't have landed at a better place for what he brings to the table. We are very excited for Joey, and we look forward to seeing him develop as a professional in the years to come."
Piatczyc will join former West Virginia stars Jack Elliott and Ray Gaddis currently in MLS organizations. Gaddis, who played at WVU from 2008-11, has played for the Philadelphia Union since 2012, while Elliott, a Mountaineer from 2013-16, has been with the Union since he was drafted by the club in 2017.
As he led the Mountaineers to a 2018 Mid-American Conference regular-season championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance, Piatczyc was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team and the All-North Region First Team. His record-breaking senior campaign also included MAC Player of the Year accolades.
Piatczyc concluded his senior season ranked No. 7 nationally with 0.56 assists per game and 10 total assists, No. 11 with five game-winning goals, No. 27 with 1.44 points per game and No. 29 with 26 total points. He also led the team with eight goals and was second with 36 shots and 17 shots on goal.
His five game-winning goals tied a program record, while his 0.56 assists per game rank No. 5 all-time, and his 10 game-winning points and 10 assists are both tied for No. 6 in team history.
In league play, Piatczyc paced the conference with 11 points and two game-winning goals and was second with four goals, 15 shots and eight shots on goal. Along with his MAC Player of the Year honor, he was the third player in MAC history to earn five player of the week accolades in a single season.
Piatczyc's 35 career assists, five multi-assist matches and 0.50 assists per match are all program records, and he is No. 2 all-time with 11 game-winning assists and No. 6 with 21 game-winning points.
In 2015, Piatczyc set the school record for assists in a single season, with 13, and his eight assists in 2014 are tied for ninth-most all-time. His five game-winning assists in 2015 tied a school record, and his 0.68 assists per match in 2015 rank No. 2 in the WVU record books.
Along with the accolades earned in 2018, Piatczyc was named the 2014 MAC Freshman of the Year and was recognized to the 2016 All-MAC First Team and the 2015 All-MAC Second Team. He was named to the Academic All-Big 12 At-Large Second Team in 2016 and was voted the Abel "Shadow" Sebele Players' Player of the Year by his teammates in 2015.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Piatczyc was selected with the 12th pick in the fourth round and 84th overall.
"I am very excited to join the New York Red Bulls, and I am looking forward to a great opportunity," Piatczyc said. "I can't wait to join one of the best organizations in the MLS and continue my playing career with NYRB. Thank you to Marlon and everyone at West Virginia for helping me get to this point, and I am excited to take the next step in my career in New York."
A native of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Piatczyc is the 11th Mountaineer to be drafted in the MLS Draft and the ninth in coach Marlon LeBlanc's tenure.
"Congratulations to Joey on his selection to the New York Red Bulls," LeBlanc said. "He certainly fits the Red Bulls' style of play, and I'm sure he's going to excel in that environment. Red Bull is a first-class organization that's renowned for playing a great brand of soccer, and he couldn't have landed at a better place for what he brings to the table. We are very excited for Joey, and we look forward to seeing him develop as a professional in the years to come."
Piatczyc will join former West Virginia stars Jack Elliott and Ray Gaddis currently in MLS organizations. Gaddis, who played at WVU from 2008-11, has played for the Philadelphia Union since 2012, while Elliott, a Mountaineer from 2013-16, has been with the Union since he was drafted by the club in 2017.
As he led the Mountaineers to a 2018 Mid-American Conference regular-season championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance, Piatczyc was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team and the All-North Region First Team. His record-breaking senior campaign also included MAC Player of the Year accolades.
Piatczyc concluded his senior season ranked No. 7 nationally with 0.56 assists per game and 10 total assists, No. 11 with five game-winning goals, No. 27 with 1.44 points per game and No. 29 with 26 total points. He also led the team with eight goals and was second with 36 shots and 17 shots on goal.
His five game-winning goals tied a program record, while his 0.56 assists per game rank No. 5 all-time, and his 10 game-winning points and 10 assists are both tied for No. 6 in team history.
In league play, Piatczyc paced the conference with 11 points and two game-winning goals and was second with four goals, 15 shots and eight shots on goal. Along with his MAC Player of the Year honor, he was the third player in MAC history to earn five player of the week accolades in a single season.
Piatczyc's 35 career assists, five multi-assist matches and 0.50 assists per match are all program records, and he is No. 2 all-time with 11 game-winning assists and No. 6 with 21 game-winning points.
In 2015, Piatczyc set the school record for assists in a single season, with 13, and his eight assists in 2014 are tied for ninth-most all-time. His five game-winning assists in 2015 tied a school record, and his 0.68 assists per match in 2015 rank No. 2 in the WVU record books.
Along with the accolades earned in 2018, Piatczyc was named the 2014 MAC Freshman of the Year and was recognized to the 2016 All-MAC First Team and the 2015 All-MAC Second Team. He was named to the Academic All-Big 12 At-Large Second Team in 2016 and was voted the Abel "Shadow" Sebele Players' Player of the Year by his teammates in 2015.
Here's Joey Piatczyc, out of @WVUMensSoccer.#RBNY pic.twitter.com/VoJMtr7sWA
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) January 14, 2019
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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