Minnesota United Select GK Alec Farrell with 23rd Overall Pick

At the top of the second round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, Minnesota United began filling a position it desperately needs to fill: goalkeeper.

With the 23rd overall pick - the first pick in the second round of the draft - Minnesota United selected Alec Ferrell, a 22-year-old Wake Forest product.

“I think we’ve taken the best striker and best young goalkeeper in the draft,” says Minnesota United Head Coach Adrian Heath. “He’s injured at the moment, so we’ll let him get over that and look forward to getting him also.”

Ferrell joins United as the team’s first keeper signing just two weeks ahead of training camp on January 28. He is a large physical presence at 6’ 4”, 195lbs.

Front office staff were able to look to his college track record when deliberating the pick. Ferrell started 18 games during the 2015 season and finished with 172 saves on the season, good for ninth best in program history.

When pressed for his plans to bring some depth to the keeper position, Heath held his cards close to the vest.

“Well, we’ve got one or two things in the pipeline at this moment,” says Heath. “He’s probably the first one that we’ve got at this moment but he certainly won’t be the last.”

Ferrell was selected in the midst of an unpredictable day at the draft as last-minute deals and surprise selections abounded.