2020 MLS Draft results: Revolution take Henry Kessler with No. 6 pick

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Virginia’s Henry Kessler (5) handles the ball during the NCAA college soccer championship against Georgetown in Cary, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

The New England Revolution found their man near the top of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.

The Revs selected Virginia defender Henry Kessler with the No. 6 overall pick in Thursday's draft.

And according to head coach Bruce Arena, the team is quite pleased with its choice.

"He was absolutely our first choice of player to have. If [we] picked number one, we would've picked him," Arena said. "We were excited. We were a little concerned after the first two picks. He could've gone at three, four, or five. We were trying to move up in the draft as well, but that didn't happen. We were very fortunate he was available at number six and we jumped on it immediately.

"He's a player that we think has great potential. He has good size for a defender, is smart, good communicator on the field, good passer of the ball, knows how to step into the midfield and win tackles. We think he's a player with a lot of potential.” 

Kessler, 21, was a semifinalist in 2019 for the MAC Hermann Trophy, given to the top college player in the country.

The New York native started in 24 games for the Cavaliers and led a defense that finished tied for first in the nation in fewest goals allowed per game (0.53).

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He was named to the All-ACC first team and helped Virginia reach the NCAA title game, where it lost to Georgetown in penalty kicks.

The Revs then shook things up a bit by trading their No. 13 overall pick to Nashville FC for up to $100,000 in general allocation money.

New England had two picks in the second round and selected Cal defender Simon Lekressner at No. 30 overall and High Point goalkeeper Keegan Meyer at No. 43 overall.

Rounds three and four of the MLS SuperDraft will be held on Monday.

Here's a recap of the Revs' activity Thursday:

FIRST ROUND
No. 6 overall: Henry Kessler, D, Virginia

SECOND ROUND
No. 30 overall: Simon Lekressner, D, Cal
No. 46 overall: Keegan Meyer, GK, High Point

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