Rapids select strikers Jaime Siaj Peguy Ngatcha in MLS SuperDraft

The Colorado Rapids had plenty of time to decide who they wanted with their third-round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. The second round ended on Friday, and Colorado had a three-day weekend to mull who they’d grab with the first pick of the third round.

When the third round opened Tuesday, the Rapids selected Jaime Siaj, a former Real Madrid academy striker.

The 6-foot-2 Spainard played three seasons at Pfeiffer University in North Carolina, tallying 47 goals and 28 assists in 69 appearances (68 starts). Pfeiffer won the 2015 NCAA Division II title.

Last season, Siaj recorded 19 goals and 16 assists in 22 games. The Rapids said he operates primarily on the wing.

Siaj, 21, was born in Madrid and came to the U.S. in 2014 to study psychology, the Rapids said.

The Rapids acquired the pick in a trade last month that sent defender Joseph Greenspan to Minnesota United.

In the fourth round, the Rapids selected Peguy Ngatcha, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound striker from Wright State. Ngatcha is originally from Douala, Cameroon. The Rapids said he moved to France with his family when he was young, but when his parents moved to the U.S., he was sent back to Cameroon to live with relatives.

Ngatcha moved to Manchester, N.H. when he was 14 and played in the New England Revolution’s development academy and also ran track in high school.

Ngatcha, who was voted the Horizon League player of the year, led the league with 10 goals to go with four assists.