Atlanta Soccer News: Art, Music and Culture: UNC - Charlotte player Evan James first pick in MLS supplemental draft

MONTREAL—The expansion Montreal Impact took forward Evan James of Mississauga first overall in the Major League Soccer supplemental draft Tuesday.

James starred at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, registering five goals in 25 games this season. He also impressed scouts at the MLS combine this month in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Toronto FC had two first-round picks, taking midfielder Dwayne Smith of Bethel fourth overall before selecting midfielder Michael Green of New Mexico at No. 14. TFC also took defender Mykel Bates in the second round, midfielder Arthur Ivo of Southern Methodist in the third and midfielder Michael Mazzullo of Columbia in the fourth.

The four-round draft was held by conference call.

The Impact, the 19th team in MLS team this season, also took forward Aaron Schoenfeld of East Tennessee State in the second round, midfielder Steven Miller of Colgate in the third and forward Carl Haworth of Niagara in the fourth round.

The Vancouver Whitecaps took defender Gienir Garcia from Mexican club Cruz Azul second overall, but traded him to Montreal later in the day for the discovery rights to Maltese international striker Etienne Barbara.

Vancouver then selected defender Greg Klazura of Notre Dame in the second round. They picked goalkeeper Andrew Fontein of UC Irvine in the third round and defender Mark Fetrow in the fourth.

The supplemental draft followed last week’s SuperDraft, in which Hermann Trophy winner Andrew Wenger of Duke went first overall to Montreal.

The Impact also announced a four-year agreement to play early-season games indoors at Olympic Stadium. The deal calls for five regular-season home games at the Big O this year, plus a Nutrilite Canadian Championship contest and at least two or three games a season for the following three years, including the team’s home openers.

Work on expanding the outdoor Saputo Stadium from 13,000 to 20,000 seats is in progress and the team will move back in June.