June 3, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Former Penn State men's soccer standout goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton (Atlanta, Ga.) signed with the defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy on Tuesday.
A four-year starter for the Nittany Lions, Wolverton was selected by the Galaxy with the 82nd overall pick in the annual MLS SuperDraft in January. After wrapping up an impressive collegiate career with his second appearance in the NCAA Tournament in as many seasons, Wolverton was taken in the fourth round of the two-day draft with the Galaxy's third and final selection.
The Georgia native trained with the team for the first time in mid-May after being unable to join the club due to the rehab process of a foot injury. The 6-foot-6 goalkeeper is now on the active roster for Galaxy after inking the contract on Tuesday.
The 2013 Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year left Happy Valley having amassed one of the most decorated careers in school history. By the time he played his last match, Wolverton was the program's all-time leader in shutouts (32), goals against average (0.53) and rose to as high as fourth in saves with 225.
The 2014 campaign proved to be one of the best seasons in his career as Wolverton recorded 64 saves to go along with a 0.90 goals against average and nine shutouts, which placed him in a tie for second in the Big Ten. His final collegiate contest may have been his finest, coming in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Syracuse as he made a season-high eight saves, one more athletic than the next, to help keep his team within striking distance during the final crucial minutes.
After graduating with a degree in management in December, Wolverton was just the seventh Penn State player to be drafted by an MLS club in program history.