LOS ANGELES (Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022) – The LA Galaxy today drafted two players in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, presented by adidas. The Galaxy selected midfielder Gino Vivi from the University of Central Florida (No. 23 overall) in the First Round and goalkeeper Russell Shealy from Syracuse University in the Second Round (No. 52 overall). Additionally, the Galaxy passed on their 77th and 81st overall selections in the Third Round.Â
Vivi, 22, was selected by the Galaxy after tallying 19 goals and 23 assists in 61 games played (57 starts) across a four-year career at the University of Central Florida (2019 – 22). Vivi was an American Athletic Conference First-Team All-Conference selection his sophomore season (2020 – 21), tallying five goals and four assists in 14 starts for UCF. The San José, Costa Rica, native was a two-time American Athletic Conference Second-Team All-Conference selection (2021, 2022) for the UCF Knights, and tallied seven goals and six assists in 17 games played (17 starts) as a junior during the 2021 campaign. Additionally, the midfielder has featured for the U-20 Costa Rican National Team.
Shealy, 23, joins LA after winning the 2022 NCAA Championship with Syracuse University. The Cartersville, Ga., native spent three seasons with Syracuse (2020 – 22), tallying 16 shutouts in 43 games played, including posting 10 shutouts and a 0.73 goals-against average his senior season in 2022. Prior to transferring to Syracuse, Shealy spent two seasons at the University of Maryland (2018 – 19) and was a member of the Terrapin side that claimed the 2018 NCAA National Championship during his redshirt season.
Gino Vivi
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-6
Weight: 150
Date of Birth: Dec. 20, 2000
Place of Birth: San José, Costa Rica
College: University of Central Florida
Citizenship: Costa Rica
Russell Shealy
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-1
Weight: 225
Date of Birth: Sept. 26, 1999
Place of Birth: Cartersville, Ga.
College: Syracuse University
Citizenship: United States
