PHILADELPHIA – For the first time in 10 years, the University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team was represented in the Major League SuperDraft as both Ben Stitz and Nick Christoffersen both heard their names called Wednesday evening.
Stitz was taken with the second pick of the second round (31st overall) by D.C. United and Christoffersen was selected with the 25th pick of the third round (83rd overall) by CF Montréal.
Stitz is fresh off one of the most outstanding offensive seasons by a Quaker in program history. Entering the season with just three goals and 10 assists in 48 career matches, the senior forward exploded for 11 goals and 30 points, both tops among all Ivy League players and both in the Top 20 among all Division I players. His seven-match scoring streak from mid-September to mid-October was the longest for the program since 1977 and, along with Stas Korzeniowski, he became the first Quaker in more than 25 years to score 10 or more goals in a season. For his efforts, he was named second-team All-Ivy and second-team All-Northeast Region.
"First off, congratulations to Ben," James C. Gentle head coach Brian Gill said. "As long as I have known him, he has always talked about wanting to play at the next level. He has put a tremendous amount of work into helping grow this program during his time at Penn. I know that everyone who has had the chance to play alongside or coach him is excited to see him take this next step in his career. While he certainly has more ahead of him, he is more than deserving and we are all proud of him."
Christoffersen joined Stitz as a second-team All-Ivy selection following a 2022 campaign that concluded with him as the only Ivy League goalkeeper with a goals-against average under 1.000 (.752), thanks in large part to seven shutouts, tied for fifth-most in a season in program history. Including the postseason, his final goals-against average of 0.77 was good for 23rd in the nation.
"While we are expecting to see Nick around for another season, a big congratulations are in order for him as well!" added Gill. "Like Ben, Nick has put a lot into the team and his own game on many levels over the last couple seasons. It is rewarding to see teams at the next level recognize his quality."
Stitz and Christoffersen are Penn's first MLS draftees since Thomas Brandt and Christian Barreiro were selected with the 13th and 50th picks, respectively, of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft. Prior to Brandt and Barreiro, Alex Grendi was chosen by the Columbus Crew in the third round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, Dan Cepero was selected by the New York Red Bulls in 2007, and Matt Haefner was also selected by the Crew in 2004.
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