Ordoñez, Löeffelsend Selected in 2022 MLS SuperDraft
1/11/2022 7:19:00 PM | Men's Soccer
PITTSBURGH – Two Pitt men's soccer players were selected in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft Tuesday evening as defender Arturo Ordoñez was taken 39th overall to Houston Dynamo and defender Jasper Löeffelsend was drafted 81st overall to Real Salt Lake.
Ordoñez, who is a product of Salou, Spain, is the fourth Panther under Head Coach Jay Vidovich to be drafted in the MLS SuperDraft. The centerback is a three-year letter winner who was a mainstay in the Panther back line, forming one of college soccer's best defenses.
Ordoñez started in every single match he played in, totaling 57 games played with over 5,100 minutes played. He finished with six goals, four assists and 42 shots and tallied three goals and one assist this past season. His 6-2 frame made him dangerous inside the box off corner kicks as he scored three game-winning goals in his career off headers.
A 2021 fall graduate, Ordoñez earned a plethora of accolades throughout his time in Pittsburgh including 2021 United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Region. He is a three-time All-ACC recipient, earning Second Team (2021), Third Team (2020-21) and Freshman (2019) and is a two-time All-ACC Tournament player (2019, 2020).
A Cologne, Germany, native, Löeffelsend joined the Panthers in August of 2020 and leaves his mark in multiple categories in the Pitt record book. He registered a 0.5 assists per game ratio for his career, surpassing Patrick Dixon's school record mark of .21 and finished his Panther career with 18 assists, tied for third in school history.
Löeffelsend was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year for the 2020-21 and 2021 seasons, becoming the first back-to-back ACC Defensive Player of the Year since Ike Opara for Wake Forest in 2008 and 2009. Along with the conference accolades, which also included back-to-back All-ACC First Team nods, the right back was named United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-America for both the 2020-21 and 2021 seasons, respectively. He was also named College Soccer News First Team All-America this season and Second Team last season, becoming the first two-time All-American in program history.
Löeffelsend helped Pitt's explosive attack with nine assists in 2021 as the Panthers set a new school record with 63 assists as a team. His total assists count finished 18th in the nation while his .53 assists per game was 14th. The MAC Hermann Trophy, college soccer's most prestigious award, named Löeffelsend a semi-finalist last month.
Panthers Drafted Under Head Coach Jay Vidovich
2018 – Pol Planellas – Second Round, 24th Overall Pick – Los Angeles FC
2019 – Javi Perez – Third Round, 64th Overall Pick – Los Angeles FC
2021 – Edward Kizza – First Round, 24th Overall Pick – New England Revolution
2022 – Arturo Ordoñez – Second Round, 39th Overall Pick – Houston Dynamo
2022 – Jasper Löeffelsend – Third Round, 81st Overall Pick – Real Salt Lake
In addition, Bryce Washington signed a homegrown contract with Atlanta United FC in June of 2021 following the conclusion of the College Cup.
Ordoñez, who is a product of Salou, Spain, is the fourth Panther under Head Coach Jay Vidovich to be drafted in the MLS SuperDraft. The centerback is a three-year letter winner who was a mainstay in the Panther back line, forming one of college soccer's best defenses.
The pick is in ??@OrdonezOsuna is heading to the @HoustonDynamo ?
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) January 11, 2022
Congratulations, Arturo! #H2P pic.twitter.com/NtAgyIMOVc
Ordoñez started in every single match he played in, totaling 57 games played with over 5,100 minutes played. He finished with six goals, four assists and 42 shots and tallied three goals and one assist this past season. His 6-2 frame made him dangerous inside the box off corner kicks as he scored three game-winning goals in his career off headers.
A 2021 fall graduate, Ordoñez earned a plethora of accolades throughout his time in Pittsburgh including 2021 United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Region. He is a three-time All-ACC recipient, earning Second Team (2021), Third Team (2020-21) and Freshman (2019) and is a two-time All-ACC Tournament player (2019, 2020).
A Cologne, Germany, native, Löeffelsend joined the Panthers in August of 2020 and leaves his mark in multiple categories in the Pitt record book. He registered a 0.5 assists per game ratio for his career, surpassing Patrick Dixon's school record mark of .21 and finished his Panther career with 18 assists, tied for third in school history.
Jasper Löeffelsend to @realsaltlake ??
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) January 11, 2022
The defender goes 81st overall in the @MLS SuperDraft ?
Congrats, Jasper!!#H2P pic.twitter.com/jx9YYI484y
Löeffelsend was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year for the 2020-21 and 2021 seasons, becoming the first back-to-back ACC Defensive Player of the Year since Ike Opara for Wake Forest in 2008 and 2009. Along with the conference accolades, which also included back-to-back All-ACC First Team nods, the right back was named United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-America for both the 2020-21 and 2021 seasons, respectively. He was also named College Soccer News First Team All-America this season and Second Team last season, becoming the first two-time All-American in program history.
Löeffelsend helped Pitt's explosive attack with nine assists in 2021 as the Panthers set a new school record with 63 assists as a team. His total assists count finished 18th in the nation while his .53 assists per game was 14th. The MAC Hermann Trophy, college soccer's most prestigious award, named Löeffelsend a semi-finalist last month.
Panthers Drafted Under Head Coach Jay Vidovich
2018 – Pol Planellas – Second Round, 24th Overall Pick – Los Angeles FC
2019 – Javi Perez – Third Round, 64th Overall Pick – Los Angeles FC
2021 – Edward Kizza – First Round, 24th Overall Pick – New England Revolution
2022 – Arturo Ordoñez – Second Round, 39th Overall Pick – Houston Dynamo
2022 – Jasper Löeffelsend – Third Round, 81st Overall Pick – Real Salt Lake
In addition, Bryce Washington signed a homegrown contract with Atlanta United FC in June of 2021 following the conclusion of the College Cup.
Players Mentioned
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