Feb. 6, 2000

St. Louis -

COLORADO PICKS DiMARIA IN MLS DRAFT ------ Alagic goes to Milwaukee in A League Draft

The Colorado Rapids selected Saint Louis University senior midfielder Jeff DiMaria (St. Charles, Mo. / Christian Bros.) today in the third round of the Major League Soccer draft. Billiken midfielder Vedad Alagic (St. Louis, Mo. / St. Mary's) went to the Milwaukee franchise in the first round of the A League draft as the 15th pick overall.

DiMaria was the Rapids' second overall selection. He was the Billikens' team captain and led the 1999 Bills in scoring with 26 points (9G, 8A). DiMaria's postseason accolades included being named to both the National Soccer Coaches Association first-team All-American squad and to the first-team Scholar Athlete team. He also was named Conference USA first-team All-Conference. He was named Most Valuable Player in the three regular-season tournaments in which the Bills participated and was the Most Valuable Midfielder at the C-USA postseason tournament.

In his four-year collegiate career that spanned two seasons each at Connecticut and Saint Louis, DiMaria compiled 41 career points (15G, 11A). He played for the West squad in the Umbro Select College All-Star Classic in Fort Lauderdale yesterday. He joined 49 other All-Americans from around the country in the event at Lockhart Stadium.

Alagic was named C-USA third-team All-Conference as he compiled 12 points (4G, 4A) in his senior season. He netted the game winner and assisted on two other goals in the win over Memphis and was named to Soccer America's Team of the Week for the period ending Sept. 26. In his three-year Billiken career, Alagic totaled 31 points (10G, 11A).

Conference USA regular-season co-champion Saint Louis (17-4-2) was the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament this year. The Billikens' 17 wins were the most in head coach Bob Warming's three-year tenure and the most for a Saint Louis team since 1992.

-- SLU --