Simon Fraser University men's soccer senior Jovan Blagojevic was drafted by the Vancouver Whitecaps in the third round of the 2015 Major League Soccer SuperDraft on Tuesday.
"I am very happy for Jovan, he has worked very hard for this opportunity," said Clan head coach Alan Koch in a Clan press release."He had a great season for us and is a very talented player. He will be a great pro. It is a great day for the Clan program.”
"Words cannot express how I feel," said Blagojevic in the release. "One minute I am jumping for happiness and the next I am crying. I am so excited for this opportunity."
Blagojevic was selected 54th overall, and while he is not the first Clan player to be drafted by the Whitecaps organization, his selection marks the first since the ‘Caps transition from the United Soccer League (USL) to the MLS.
After a superb senior season, Blagojevic was unanimously selected as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s and West Region’s player of the year and named to the 2014 men's soccer All-America second team.
The Coquitlam native registered the best season of his collegiate career in 2014, scoring 18 goals in 18 games. Blagojevic scored a conference-leading seven game-winning goals. His 18 goals was also the 11th-best single-season goal-scoring total at SFU.
Last season, Blagojevic led the Clan to their third consecutive national tournament appearance, and an 11-5-2 record. The Clan was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Division II national tournament this year after advancing to the Final Four in 2012 and 2013.
Simon Fraser is Canada's only university competing in the NCAA, and the league’s only international member.
After suffering an injury in his sophomore season and playing only 12 games, Blagojevic bounced back as a junior, appearing in all 23 of the Clan's matches, earning 11 goals and five assists en route to Simon Fraser's second Final Four appearance.
He finished his collegiate career with 38 goals in 71 games, which places him 8th on the Clan's all-time goal-scoring list. Blagojevic finished his career with 38 goals and 14 assists for 90 points, 10th in career scoring.
“I am incredibly proud of Jovan,” Koch added. “Not only is he thoroughly deserving of this opportunity with the Whitecaps, but he is also a first-class citizen. His success on the pitch and in the classroom over the last four years has been nothing short of remarkable. He is an exceptional talent and has untapped potential. I wish him all the best in preseason with the Whitecaps.”
