Jan. 19, 2007

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis midfielder John DiRaimondo (St. Louis, Mo. / Edison Academic Ctr.) was selected in the first round by the Colorado Rapids in the Major League Soccer supplemental draft. He was chosen fourth overall in the draft, which was held at the league office via teleconference.

"It has been Johnny's dream to play in MLS for a long time," Billikens head coach Dan Donigan said. "He is excited about getting selected and knows that it is up to him to go to Colorado and prove his value to their club."

In 2006, DiRaimondo was named an NSCAA third-team All-American after leading the Billikens in scoring with 15 points (5G, 5A). A first-team All-Conference selection, he also earned All-America distinction from topdrawersoccer.com and College Soccer News. DiRaimondo was the 2006 Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Soccer Student-Athlete of the Year, an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American and an NSCAA Scholar All-American. He finished his Billiken career ranked 18th on SLU's career scoring chart with 72 points (22G, 28A).

"We are very proud of him and what he has accomplished for us at SLU and wish him the best in his professional endeavors," Donigan said. "Johnny is now included in a class of special players from our program that have had the great honor of being selected in the top professional league in our country, MLS."

DiRaimondo will attempt to join other Billiken alumni in MLS that currently includes Jack Jewsbury and Will John in Kansas City, Jacob Thomas and Tim Ward in Columbus and Brad Davis and Martin Hutton in Houston.