Union busy at top of MLS draft

Oregon State striker Danny Mwanga is the Philadelphia Union's first-ever draft pick.

Mwanga, the Pac-10 player of the year as a sophomore, was chosen first overall by the expansion Union at today's Major League Soccer SuperDraft at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Mwanga, 6-2, 175, was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He posted a team-high 14 goals and added two assists in 18 games for Oregon State last fall.

"I can honestly say that today was probably the best day of my life," Mwanga said. "I cannot leave this stage without thanking you, the Philadelphia Union fans.

"This is a place that I know that I can excel and I know that with Peter's help, he can mold me to become a better player."

Union team manager Peter Nowak visited Mwanga, 18, in Oregon before Christmas in an effort to convince him not to go to Europe.

"I talked to a lot of people and a lot of players and everyone that I talked to said that playing for coach Peter Nowak was the right thing to do," Mwanga said.

Mwanga is a member of "Generation adidas" so he does not count on the Union's roster or against the salary cap.

"I pretty much had my mind made up to stay here," Mwanga said. "I'm not confident that I could succeed at that level [in Europe], but I know playing in the MLS, I am confident that I will get to where I need to be."

A raucous crowd made up largely of "Sons of Ben" members serenaded Mwanga with chants of "Oh, Danny Boy" after his selection was announced.

"We wanted to select a guy withour No. 1 pick that is going to be ready for MLS," Nowak said. "We feel we get that with Danny."

The Union has three of the first seven selections in the MLS SuperDraft of college players after the team's second deal in two days.

The Union acquired the sixth overall pick from FC Dallas in exchange for allocation money.

With the pick, the Union chose midfielder Amobi Okugo, from UCLA. Okugo, 18, a Sacramento native, left college after his freshman year when he was named the Pac-10 freshman of the year. He also has spent time on the United States' U-20 team and is a Generation addidas player.

"This is always been a dream for me," Okugo said. "I'm excited to get my professional career started in Philly. I know Peter Nowak is a guy who likes to play soccer and a guy who likes to win, so this will be a good fit for me."

Yesterday, the team acquired allocation money, the seventh overall pick and Brazilian midfielder Fred from D.C. United in exchange for the Union's top allocation ranking, which United used to obtain 2006 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Troy Perkins.

With that pick, the Union selected forward Jack McInerney, from the Cobb Soccer Club. He is only 17 and could be more of a long-term investment than an immediate contributor.

Another member of Generation adidas, McInerney, 5-9, 160, starred for the U-17 national team last year and helped the team qualify for the U-17 World Cup.

"I wasn't expecting to go pro, but when I realized I had the opportunity, I had to take it," he said.

The average age of the Union's three top picks is 17.6 years old.

"It's important to look for guys who can come in and play immediately, but also it helps to have young guys that we can develop," Nowak said.

Union CEO and operating partner Nick Sakiewicz termed all the moves to acquire more picks at the top of the draft "a running start."

"Conditions were not ideal at the combine in Florida last week, but Peter and his technical staff saw some things and some people that they targeted," he said. "From that point on, we listened to others and have now made a couple deals that will give us a running start in establishing the kind of team and organization that gives maximum effort every time out on the pitch. That's what our supporters want and deserve."

The Union has the top pick in each of the four rounds and selected University of Connecticut midfielder Toni Stahl with the first pick in Round 2. Stahl is a native of Tuusula, Finland, and has played on his country's U-17 and U-18 teams. He was a three-time All-Big East selection at UConn.

In Round 3, the Union selected another UCLA player, midfielder/forward Kyle Nakazawa. He is a member of the U-20 national team and also played on the U-17 team in the World Cup. He led the Pac-10 in points (31), and ranked second in goals scored (12) and points per game (1.55).

The Union stayed with UCLA for its fourth-round selection, picking goalkeeper Brian Perk. He was the starting 'keeper for the U.S. team at the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup and the 2009 CONCACAF Under-20 Championships. He posted shutouts in four straight games with the U-20s in 2009.

Daily News sports writer Kerith Gabriel contributed to this report.