After promising 2019 seasons, former Creighton men’s soccer players Luke Haakenson and Younes Boudadi are taking the next step in their careers.
Haakenson and Boudadi were both selected in the fourth round of the 2020 Major League Soccer Superdraft held on Jan. 9.
Haakenson was selected with the second pick of the fourth round, 80th overall by Nashville SC, one of the new MLS expansion teams in 2020.
Hailing from Maple Grove, Minnesota, Haakenson finished his four-year career at Creighton scoring 12 career goals, seven of them game winners. Playing in 74 career matches, starting 56 of them, the midfielder earned Second Team All-Big East honors following his senior season.
Boudadi, also a recipient of Second Team All-Big East honors after his senior season, was drafted by LAFC (Los Angeles Football Club) with the 24th pick of the fourth round, 102nd overall.
After beginning his collegiate career at Boston College, the Belgium native transferred to Creighton after his sophomore season. During his senior season, Boudadi tied for first on the team in assists with four, bringing his total to 16. Boudadi played in 34 total matches in two seasons at Creighton, starting in all but one during his junior year.
Haakenson and Boudadi are Creighton’s 44th and 45th players to be drafted to the next level since the league’s initial season in 1996. They are the first two to be selected under head coach Johnny Torres’ tenure.
“I’m happy for the guys,” Torres said. “Those are dreams and aspirations that they’ve had all their life. Anytime you see any of our guys from Creighton able to move on to the next step is fulfilling and I’m happy for them.”
Torres mentioned that he believed Haakenson and Boudadi were always talented enough and that he knew from the beginning they had the potential to go on to the next level.
Torres spoke highly of the duo, regarding the fact that not only did they get drafted, but they also graduated from Creighton.
“Obviously, you always want to keep our standards high and we want to try and focus on that when we recruit,” Torres said.
“What’s tremendous about those two players is, not only are they going off to try their luck with the professional side of things, but they both graduated with their degrees, so obviously that’s important for us to be able to do well academically and get that degree because you’re not going to be able to play forever.”
As a graduate of Creighton Torres and a fifth overall draft pick in 1994, Torres offered some courage for Haakenson and Boudadi as they embark on their new journeys.
“I told them to expand on their skill set and have confidence in themselves and go out and make sure that they put out every single session,” Torres said. “Just enjoy it and believe in yourself and your ability as you are playing.”