Jan. 22, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky men’s soccer senior midfielder Cameron Wilder has been picked in the third round of the 2013 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft by FC Dallas, it was announced on Tuesday afternoon.
A native of Kennesaw, Ga., Wilder is the fourth player in program history to be picked in the MLS Draft. He joins former UK greats Jason Griffiths, who was picked in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by the New England Revolution in the third round and keeper Andy Gruenebaum, who was the third overall pick in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft. Riley O’Neill was also picked in the Supplemental Draft in 2007 by the Colorado Rapids.
A senior co-captain in 2012, Wilder helped lead the Wildcats to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003, with UK securing a hosting bid after setting new program records for wins and games played against top-25 foes.
“Playing with this team was a really good experience,” Wilder said about his senior season. “We helped each other out. It was a completely new team with a new coaching staff. It was an unbelievable year. Making it to the NCAAs for the first time in so many years was a great accomplishment. We just believed in each other. We went through some tough spells, we fought back and we never gave up. That is just one thing that was special about this team, we never really gave up and we fought for each other. It was just a great year.”
A 5-foot-7, 145-pound speedster, Wilder completed his decorated career in 2012 with All-Conference USA honors as UK’s stabilizing force in the midfield. As a senior, Wilder started 21 games, totaling one goal on 14 shots, logging 1806 minutes. Wilder got his first career goal in a drama-filled C-USA Tournament Semifinals matchup with No. 25 SMU in Hoover, Ala.
In his career, Wilder played in 70 games with 49 starts, totaling 3998 minutes with a goal and three assists. He fired 42 shots – 13 coming on target – in his career, including a season-best 15 as a sophomore.
The Supplemental Draft is an extension of the SuperDraft, which was held last week in Indianapolis. It consists of four rounds.
