Jan. 17, 2003 – Revolution select Pat Noonan with No. 9 pick in SuperDraft

Jan. 17, 2003 – Revs select Pat Noonan with No. 9 pick in MLS SuperDraft, acquire Matt Reis from LA Galaxy in exchange for Alex Pineda Chacon

Noonan went on to score 46 goals in all competitions in four years with the Revolution, second on the team’s all-time list at time, before departing for Aalesund in Norway.

This draft marked former Revolution coach Steve Nicol’s ability to find underrated collegiate prospects late in the first round. In 2004, Nicol took Clint Dempsey at No. 8 and in 2005, Michael Parkhurst No. 9.

Nicol was ably assisted by John Murphy, who did much of the Revolution scouting and had strongly recommended both Noonan and Shavar Thomas, who went to Dallas with the No. 10 pick. The previous year, Murphy had helped the Revolution with another draft “steal,” insisting on the team choosing Shalrie Joseph, though Joseph would not be available until at least 2003.

Reis was acquired as a backup, and went on to make 301 appearances in all competitions for the Revolution.

Coincidentally, Noonan and Reis went on to become assistants to Bruce Arena with the LA Galaxy and now with the U.S. national team.

Below is my story in 1/18/2003 editions of The Boston Globe:

TRADE, DRAFT AID REVOLUTION DEPTH

The Revolution yesterday added depth by trading for goalkeeper Matt Reis and selecting forwards Pat Noonan and Dimelon Westfield, plus goalkeeper Kyle Singer in the MLS super draft. The moves officially confirmed the departure of veterans Alex Pineda Chacon, 32, and Juergen Sommer, 34.

Reis, expected to replace Sommer as backup to Adin Brown, was acquired from Los Angeles for Pineda Chacon and a second-round draft choice. Reis, 27, from Mission Viejo, Calif., played 39 games for the Galaxy but lost the starting job to Kevin Hartman last season. Noonan was selected ninth overall and Singer and Westfield were chosen in the third round of the draft, which was conducted in Kansas City, Mo.

Pineda Chacon was named MLS Most Valuable Player for Miami in 2001 but scored only twice in 23 games last year for the Revolution. He became expendable once Polish midfielder Peter Nowak arrived from the Chicago Fire two weeks ago.

Carlos Llamosa, 33, and Nowak, 38, are the only over-30 players expected to be in the starting lineup.

“It’s always nice to have youth on your side, as long as you don’t have too much,” Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. “I think we have a good balance.

“You need to keep every player on their toes and we believe [Reis] is a potential starter. Everyone is going to be competing for places.”

Few recent draft choices, especially offensive players, have made a major impact in pro soccer. Last year, the Revolution chose Taylor Twellman second overall, and Twellman went on to score a team- record 25 goals.

But expectation levels drop quickly after the first few picks. The 10th choice, central defender Shavar Thomas, taken by Dallas, could be an exception. Thomas, 21, starred at the Hotchkiss School and the University of Connecticut, and is a member of Jamaica’s national team who has been on the radar screen of teams in England. By passing on Thomas, the Revolution apparently are giving a vote of confidence to Shalrie Joseph, from Trinidad & Tobago, who refused an MLS contract and sat out last season. Joseph is expected to be a reserve behind Daouda Kante and Llamosa.

Noonan scored 48 goals in four seasons and was a member of the 1999 NCAA championship team at Indiana University. Westfield, from Trinidad & Tobago, played at Clemson. Singer transferred from Virginia to Boston College and helped the Eagles reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament last year.

The Revolution will play six games at 4 p.m. and five at 6 p.m. on Saturdays at Gillette Stadium this season. Seven Revolution games will be shown on ESPN2, starting with the home opener against Columbus April 19.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY