St. Petersburg native taken No. 5 in Major League Soccer draft

St. Petersburg's Zac MacMath was the No. 5 overall pick of the Major League Soccer draft today by the Philadelphia Union.

MacMath, who got his start in the Southside Youth Soccer League, is a goalkeeper who just completed his junior season at the University of Maryland, earning all-ACC honors, after attending Bradenton Academy.

He also played for the Clearwater Chargers club teams. MacMath, 19, was most recently invited to train as part of the United States Under-20 national team. "I honestly don't know if it's really hit me yet,'' MacMath said. "I've been at soccer fields seven nights a week for the last 16 years working for this. It's a dream come true.''

MacMath, who was the first goalkeeper selected in the draft, said he had hoped to be among the top 10 picks. "I'm really excited right now,'' he said. "And I'm very happy to be selected by the Philadelphia Union.''

Former Gaither standout Eddie Ababio, a senior fullback at North Carolina, was the 18th overall pick, taken as the final selection of the first round by reigning MLS champion Colorado Rapids.

Ababio, who had 13 goals and 12 assists in his college career, was a Parade All-American in 2005 and '06. He was also a member of the U-17 U.S. national Team that won the U-17 World Cup in 2005 and was a member of the U-17 national team residency program in 2004-05. He played club soccer for HC United.

— Marc Topkin and Eduardo A. Encina, Times staff writers