Two VCU soccer stars headed to Major League Soccer

Staff Reports

As of Tuesday, two former VCU men’s soccer players will be moving on to play Major League Soccer.

Last Thursday, former VCU soccer star Jason Johnson was drafted 13th overall by the Houston Dynamo in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft. Just five days later, Juan Arbelaez was chosen by the Montreal Impact in the third round of the MLS’s Supplemental Draft.

Johnson is the first VCU player to be drafted since 2006, when FC Dallas took Dominic Oduro in the second round. The Jamaica native signed a contract with Generation Adidas back in December after a banner junior season, making official his intentions to enter the draft.

Johnson was named Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year in his third year at VCU, leading the Rams with 13 goals scored, which led the conference in the regular season. Johnson recorded 27 goals and 10 assists in his career at VCU. Prior to enrolling at VCU, Johnson spent time on the Jamaican Men’s Senior National Team.

“With Dom (Oduro), Sega (Gonzalo Segares) and Andrew Dykstra already in MLS, we are excited to have JJ and Juan joining them,” VCU head coach Dave Giffard said. “Although we have those three guys in the league now, it has been awhile since VCU put players into Major League Soccer.

“These are just the first two players from what I think will be a large number of guys currently with us that I think will soon be playing in MLS.”

Arbelaez came to VCU after spending two years at Georgia Perimeter College. The midfielder finished with one goal and five assists in his time at VCU.

Johnson and Arbelaez helped lead the Rams to 12 wins in 2012, the most since 2007. The team reached a No. 25 ranking in the final NSCAA Poll and received a national seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.

Arbelaez and Johnson join Oduro and Segares as VCU alumni currently in the MLS.