STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford senior captain Brian Nana-Sinkam became the Cardinal's eighth first-round selection when he was chosen with the 22nd overall pick by the Seattle Sounders in Friday's MLS SuperDraft.
Nana-Sinkam is the third Stanford player taken in the first round under head coach Jeremy Gunn after Brandon Vincent went fourth overall to the Chicago Fire last January and JJ Koval was picked ninth by the San Jose Earthquakes following the 2014 season. The Litiz, Pa. product is the 22nd Stanford men's soccer alumnus to hear his name called in the MLS SuperDraft, which from 1996-99 was known as the MLS College Draft.
"We are absolutely thrilled for Brian," Gunn said. "I think he is the epitome of what college soccer is all about. He evolved both as a soccer player and as a young man to become an invaluable defender and an incredible captain. We are certainly excited for him to be going to the Sounders who already have some wonderful Stanford soccer alumni in the organization."
In Seattle, Nana-Sinkam will be reunited with a pair of former Stanford teammates in Jordan Morris and Aaron Kovar and will have the opportunity to learn under another great Cardinal defender in Chad Marshall.
Nana-Sinkam commanded one of the nation's best defenses from his spot at center back, making 67 starts during his career. Stanford, which won its second consecutive national championship in December, became just the third team to do so without allowing a goal the entire tournament.
The Cardinal finished the year fourth nationally with a 0.56 goals against average, tied for the second-best mark in program history. Stanford's 13 shutouts also tied for third in the country and were its most since 2000 (16).
Nana-Sinkam and Stanford ended the year on a stretch of 546:30 without allowing a goal. Dating back to last season, the Cardinal has not allowed a goal in in its past seven postseason matches, an NCAA record.
A 2016 NSCAA All-Far West Region second team selection, Nana-Sinkam helped guide Stanford to a 56-15-15 (.783) during his career, including three Pac-12 championships and a pair of NCAA titles. The Cardinal leads the nation in winning percentage the past three seasons, going 46-8-11 (.792).
In addition to being an all-region honoree, Nana-Sinkam was also voted a Senior CLASS Award Second Team All-American and an All-Pac-12 first team performer in 2016.
