SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has signed rookie defenders Joe Sofia and Ryan Neil. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Sofia, 22, was a second-round pick (No. 28 overall) of the Earthquakes in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. He completed a strong four-year career with the Bruins in 2013, starting 19 matches at center back and earning All-Pac-12 honors while helping UCLA to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
For his career, the Southern California native scored five goals and recorded eight assists in 82 games. He earned All-Pac-12 honors as a sophomore, junior and senior and was also the Pac-12 Men’s Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2013. The Bruins recorded 34 shutouts during his career, as Sofia helped UCLA to four consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including an appearance in the 2011 College Cup.
Neil, 22, was a first-round pick (No. 18 overall) of Real Salt Lake in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, but was not signed. He spent four years at Cal, earning All-Pac-12 second-team honors in 2013 and 2012. The Southern California native played and started 20 games in 2013, recording one goal and four assists and earning an All-Pac-12 second-team selection as a senior at Berkeley. Neil helped the Golden Bears reach the quarterfinals of the 2013 NCAA College Cup, putting in a full 90 minutes in the team’s 2-1 quarterfinal loss to the University of Maryland.
In his junior year, Neil earned a spot on the NSCAA All-Far West third team and was a member of the All-Pac-12 second-team while recording a career-high five assists. The Mission Viejo, Calif. native appeared in 67 games, made 48 starts and tallied a total of two goals and 13 assists in his collegiate career.
Transaction:San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) – San Jose Earthquakes sign D Joe Sofia and D Ryan Neil.
Joe Sofia
Position: Defender
Jersey Number: 27
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180 lbs.
Born: Oct. 8, 1991 in Mission Viejo, Calif.
Hometown: Dove Canyon, Calif.
College: UCLA
Citizenship: USA
Ryan Neil
Position: Defender
Jersey Number: 19
Height: 6-1
Weight: 165
Birthdate: Jan. 2, 1992 in Newport Beach, Calif.
Hometown: Mission Viejo, Calif.
College: Cal
Citizenship: USA
