NEW YORK, N.Y. – Connecticut College senior goalkeeper AJ Marcucci was selected in the third round of the 2021 Major League Soccer SuperDraft on January 21. Marcucci was chosen 67th overall by the New York Red Bulls.
 
Marcucci is the first Division III player to be drafted since midfielder Marshall Hollingsworth of Wheaton (Ill.) heard his name called with the 41st pick by the Columbus Crew in 2016. He is also the third NESCAC player ever selected. Williams College standouts Khari Stephenson and Alex Blake were the 27th and 28th picks by the Chicago Fire (2004) and the Colorado Rapids (2003), respectively.
 
"Our program is so proud of AJ and his family," said head men's soccer coach Reuben Burk. "I know this is a dream come true for him and probably something he has visualized about every day for the last several years. He has earned this opportunity, and we couldn't be happier and more excited for him. AJ is a true example of how dedication, commitment, and self-belief can open up doors that others might say can't be opened. We all look forward to watching AJ seize this opportunity."
 
As a Camel, Marcucci started in 54 of the team's 55 matches between 2017 and 2019 and helped the team post a record of 35-10-9 in that span. He finished his career with a school-record 25 career shutouts to go along with an .887 save percentage, and an 0.50 goals against average.
 
 Marcucci earned a place on the NCAA All-America First Team as the nation's top Division III goalkeeper twice by both the United Soccer Coaches and D3soccer.com in 2018 and 2019. He was also named the NESCAC Rookie of the Year in 2017 and the NESCAC Player of the Year in 2018.
 
The Camel men's soccer team also had its most successful three-year run with Marcucci between the posts from 2017-19. The program became the institution's first sport to qualify for three straight NCAA Tournaments, which included hosting the opening two rounds of the tournament for the first time in school history in 2018. Backstopped by Marcucci, the Camels earned NCAA Tournament wins over Catholic, Johns Hopkins, and Swarthmore to advance to the "Elite 8" of the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
 
"This is a tremendous achievement for AJ and is a reflection of the broader excellence of our student-athletes at Conn," added Mo White, Connecticut College Director of Athletics. "The College is incredibly proud of AJ and looking forward to seeing what he will do next as a New York Red Bulls player."