Jan. 24, 2008

Chicago, Ill.- UIC midfielder Cesar Zambrano (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice) was selected by the Colorado Rapids in the 2008 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft on Thursday.

Zambrano was taken by the Rapids in the first round of the draft with the fifth overall pick.

The former Flames standout finished a fine three-year collegiate career this past fall. As a senior in 2007 Zambrano led UIC with six goals, seven assists and 19 points. He was a 2007 NSCAA/adidas All-Great Lakes Region Second Team selection, a 2007 All-Horizon League First Team selection, and the 2007 Horizon League Tournament Most Valuable Player.

In his career in a UIC kit Zambrano scored 15 goals, assisted on 12 others and tallied 42 points. He was a two-time NSCAA/adidas All-Region selection (2006, 2007) and a three-time All-Horizon League selection (2005, 2006, 2007).

Zambrano becomes the third UIC player to be picked by an MLS side and the second to be drafted by the Rapids.

Eric Lukin was UIC's first Major League Soccer draftee in 2001 when he was taken by the Rapids in the third round of that year's SuperDraft.

Last year Zambrano's former teammate, Tonci Skroce, was taken by the Columbus Crew in the second round of the Supplemental Draft. Coincidentally the Crew traded with the Rapids for the pick to select Skroce.