FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution selected three players in the first two rounds of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday. Comprising the club's selections are University of Virginia defender Henry Kessler (6th overall), University of California defender Simon Lekressner (30th overall), and High Point University goalkeeper Keegan Meyer (43rd overall). The Revolution also traded the 13th-overall pick to Nashville SC in exchange for $50,000 in General Allocation Money and up to $50,000 in additional General Allocation Money should Nashville’s selection meet certain performance-based metrics with the club. The 2020 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas resumes on Jan. 13 with the third and fourth rounds.
Kessler, 21, recorded 52 appearances – including 41 starts – with one goal scored in more than 4,000 minutes played across three seasons at the University of Virginia from 2017-19. The 6-foot-4 center back started and played 90 minutes in each of UVA's 24 matches during his junior campaign in 2019, which culminated in an ACC title and an appearance in the NCAA College Cup Championship. Kessler was named a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist after anchoring Virginia's back line to 12 shutout wins and a 21-2-1 record. The Cavaliers’ 21 wins led the NCAA, while the backline’s 0.53 goals against average ranked second in the nation. His additional accolades include an ACC Tournament MVP, All-ACC First Team, and USC All-Region First Team selections in 2019, as well as USC All-South Region Second Team and All-ACC Third team nods in 2018.
One of five members of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft Class signed to a Generation adidas contract, Kessler's salary will not be charged against the Revolution's salary budget. A native of New York, N.Y., he was a member of the Red Bull Academy reserves in 2014-15 and played for Beachside SC in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
Lekressner, 21, recorded 65 appearances – including 35 starts – with eight goals and five assists in four seasons at the University of California from 2016-19. The 5-foot-8 defender posted career highs in starts (18) and goals (5) during his senior season with the Golden Bears, which culminated in selections to the All-Pac 12 First Team and USC All-Far West Region Second Team. A native of Bellevue, Wash., Lekressner was named the Pac-12 Men's Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2019 for his efforts in the classroom and on the field, and also earned Pac-12 All-Academic First Team honors in 2017 and 2018.
Meyer, 22, started 74 matches in net for High Point University during four seasons with the Panthers. The 6-foot-3 goalkeeper owns the school's all-time record for shutouts with 27, and earned three consecutive Big South All-Conference selections between 2017-19 – adding two USC All-Region selections and one NCCSIA All-State selection. During his redshirt senior campaign in 2019, Meyer started and played 90 minutes in each of the Panthers' 20 games, registering 13 wins with seven shutouts, 75 saves, and a .743 saves percentage. A native of Silver Springs, Md., Meyer attended DeMatha High School in Maryland and played club soccer with the Baltimore Celtics.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution select defender Henry Kessler (1st round; sixth overall), defender Simon Lekressner (2nd round; 30th overall), and goalkeeper Keegan Meyer (2nd round; 43rd overall) in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft. The Revolution also traded the 13th-overall pick to Nashville SC in exchange for $50,000 in General Allocation Money and up to $50,000 in additional General Allocation Money should Nashville’s selection meet certain performance-based metrics with the club.
HENRY KESSLER
Position: Defender
Height: 6-4
Weight: 185
Date of Birth: 06/25/1998 (New York, N.Y.)
Hometown: New York, N.Y.
College: Virginia
Nationality: United States
How Acquired: Selected in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.
Twitter: @HenryKessler4
SIMON LEKRESSNER
Position: Defender
Height: 5-8
Weight: 155
Date of Birth: 09/01/1998 (Bellevue, Wash.)
Hometown: Bellevue, Wash.
College: California
Nationality: United States
How Acquired: Selected in the second round (30th overall) of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.
Twitter: @LekressnerSimon
KEEGAN MEYER
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195
Date of Birth: 03/10/1997 (Silver Spring, Md.)
Hometown: Silver Spring, Md.
College: High Point
Nationality: United States
How Acquired: Selected in the second round (43th overall) of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.
