SMU players drafted by FC Dallas

NEW YORK (SMU) – SMU men’s soccer players Craig Hill and Kekoa Osorio were selected by FC Dallas in Major League Soccer’s Supplemental Draft Tuesday. Osorio was taken as the 35th pick, while Hill was selected 53rd.

“We’re really excited for both Kekoa and Craig,” head coach Tim McClements said. “Being selected by FC Dallas, there’s obviously a level of comfort there; they know the head coach and were teammates with a few of the guys on the team. I think it’s a really good opportunity for them to get in to a program where they have an understanding of the system and the players that are around them.”

Both players were recruited to SMU by former Mustangs’ and

current FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman. Hill also spent the summer of 2010 training with FC Dallas. He is familiar with the team, particularly the goaltending staff.

Hill and Osorio served as team captains during the 2010 season.

Hill played all but 15 minutes in net for the Mustangs this season, helping the Mustangs to a 16-2-2 record, an NCAA Elite Eight appearance and a Conference USA Regular Season Championship. He recorded four shutouts and posted 1.06 goals-against average. Hill was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 25 – Nov. 1.

Osorio helped lead the Mustang defense against some of the best teams in the country en route to being named Second Team All-Conference USA. The midfielder led the Mustang defense, allowing just 22 goals on the season. Osorio also earned an assist in each of SMU’s games against South Carolina.

The players report to training camp next week.