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They selected three midfielders in Wednesday's A-League college draft. The Riverhounds chose Penn State graduate Derek Potteiger in the first round, Joey Worthen from the South Carolina, second, and Ted Giannacopoulos of Williams College, third.

"The three are guys who are versatile in that they can play different positions which is an asset to us," Riverhounds coach Kai Haaskivi said. "I believe with the offensive power we already have, they can make an immediate impact."

They might be able to - if Haaskivi can sign them.

Potteiger also was selected in the fourth round of Sunday's MLS Super Draft by the New England Revolution. The Revolution, with whom Potteiger currently is training, have first rights to him. If they choose to let him go, the Riverhounds have 14 days to come to an agreement with him. The situation would have been different if the Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew or Kansas City Wizards drafted Potteiger, because the Riverhounds can borrow players from these three MLS affiliates.

The Riverhounds will have to wait at least until March 15, the date MLS teams determine final rosters.

"This is by far the hardest year for college players because with the MLS cutting two teams and their rosters (to 18 players), that has left many MLS players out there who are available to A-League teams," Haaskivi said. "It is an uphill battle for some of these players."

Haaskivi hopes to have Potteiger, Worthen and Giannacopoulos fighting for playing spots which should make for a competitive training camp, which opens April 1. The Riverhounds, who lost in the quarterfinals of the A-League playoffs to eventual champion Rochester Raging Rhinos last year, enter their fourth season April 20 when they play host to the Toronto Lynx at Bethel Park Stadium.

Potteiger is the Riverhounds' territorial pick. Each A-League team has the opportunity to select a player within the team's geographical region. A Mechanicsburg native, Potteiger started all 87 games in four seasons at Penn State. He was a 2001 All-American selection and a three-time All-Big Ten first team selection. As a junior, he led the Nittany Lions with 32 points on 13 goals and six assists. He scored a pair of goals and seven assists this past season.

Worthen, a Salt Lake City native, competed in United Soccer League's Premier Development League for the Cape Cod Crusaders where he had five goals and four assists in 14 games.

Giannacopoulos, a Needham, Mass. native, is a four-time All-American in NCAA Division III for Williams College where he amassed 103 points in four seasons with 35 goals and 33 assists. Mike Russo, who coached Giannacopoulos at Williams College, said his quickness creates havoc for defenders. He also has an innate ability to go one-on-one with a defender.

Haaskivi is confident in all three of his choices.

"We put a lot of time and effort into this draft, looking at players and talking to MLS and college coaches," Haaskivi said. "We knew most of the players and what they can do to help us."

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