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Orlando City, New York City FC add players in MLS expansion draft

Orlando City selected goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts with the first pick of the MLS expansion draft on Wednesday.

Orlando and New York City FC each made 10 selections to fill out their squads ahead of their MLS debuts in 2015.

Ricketts, 37, was the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2010 for the LA Galaxy and again in 2013 for the Portland Timbers.

"For the first time, we have a player for every position, which we are delighted with," said NYCFC coach Jason Kreis. "We have some great talent across our roster and have brought in some terrific players today. We are hugely excited for March and to continue to build what we hope will be a winning squad."

With its first selection, NYCFC selected veteran midfielder Ned Grabavoy, who spent the last five seasons with Real Salt Lake.

RSL was one of five teams to have the maximum two of its players taken in the draft, as defender Chris Wingert also went to NYCFC with the final selection.

"It's tough," RSL coach Jeff Cassar told MLSsoccer.com. "You never want to lose two people like Ned and Chris -- two people that have meant so much to the organization. We're definitely going to miss them."

The New England Revolution also lost two players to NYCFC in forwards Patrick Mullins and Tony Taylor. Mullins, a former college star at Maryland and the 11th overall pick in last year's MLS SuperDraft, set up the Revs' only goal in the MLS Cup final on Sunday.

"You never really know for sure, but we thought there was a good chance Patrick might get selected," said Revolution GM Michael Burns. "It was a difficult decision not to protect Patrick. Unfortunately, he's a guy that we didn't want to lose, but understand that's how it works."

Orlando City also added two players from the Colorado Rapids -- midfielder Tony Cascio and forward Danny Mwanga -- as well as two from Columbus -- forward Jairo Arrieta and defender Eric Gehrig.

Arrieta has scored 17 MLS goals in three seasons, but Crew coach Gregg Berhalter said things could have been worse.

"We did a good job of protecting the young core of our team, and we look forward to building a stronger team for next year," Berhalter said.

Orlando also added veteran U.S. international defender Heath Pearce from the Montreal Impact, as well as defender Jalil Anibaba from Seattle, midfielders Pedro Ribeiro from Philadelphia and Lewis Neal from DC United, and forward Mark Sherrod from Houston.

NYCFC selected defender Jason Hernandez -- who was taken in an expansion draft for the second time in his career after San Jose selected him in 2007.

Midfielders Danile Lovitz from Toronto, Mehdi Ballouchy from Vancouver, Thomas McNamara from DC United, and Sal Zizzo from Sporting KC also went to NYCFC, as did FC Dallas defender George John.

Later on Wednesday, three former Chivas USA players joined teams in the league's waiver draft.

The Montreal Impact selected English midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker with the first pick, while winger Leandro Barrera went to San Jose with the next selection.

The Colorado Rapids selected defender Bobby Burling with the third pick, before the rest of the teams passed.