(St. George – Dec. 18, 2025) – Utah Tech’s Stockton Short was selected 81st overall by Seattle Sounders FC in the third round of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday. He is the first draft pick in program history and one of just eight goalkeepers chosen in this year’s draft.

“We are extremely proud of Stockton and the news of his selection today,” Utah Tech head coach Jonny Broadhead said. “He is the first player in our program history to be drafted, and our entire alumni base, staff and current team couldn’t be happier for him.”

A native of Pleasant View, Utah, Short started six games for the Trailblazers in 2025. He posted 24 saves, a 1.14 goals against average, an .800 save percentage, a shutout and a combined shutout across 475 minutes in net before his season was cut short due to injury. Short was named one of the WAC Goalkeepers of the Week on Sept. 9 after he shut out Cal State Bakersfield, 3-0, with five saves on 11 shots faced.

The 2025 Preseason WAC Goalkeeper of the Year set the Utah Tech single-season saves record in 2024, logging 105 to lead the nation. He was a Second Team All-WAC honoree last season, setting the Division I-era single-game program record with 11 saves against Seattle U on Oct. 13, 2024.

At Utah Tech, Short has started all 47 of his career appearances. Among Utah Tech’s all-time career marks, Short ranks third in goalkeeper minutes (4,120), saves (210) and goals against average (1.45) and fourth in shutouts (7). 

“Stockton’s playing career has not been the recent, traditional path most players nowadays go, but yet his path will always stand the test of time,” Broadhead said. “Stockton played his youth soccer in the US Youth Soccer platform landscape and never played for any MLS Academy or any club that was a part of the USSDA or MLS Next platform. He chose to go to a new, Division I program for his college experience and wanted to help us accomplish as many program firsts as possible and lay the foundation for the future. He worked extremely hard to earn every honor and opportunity he has created for himself.” 

Short attracted the Sounders’ attention with the help and guidance of Utah Tech assistant coach Nick Vorberg, who has a long-time friendship with Tom Dutra, Seattle Sounders FC club director of goalkeeping. Short trained with the Sounders first team during the last two summers and played in the Pacific Northwest with Ballard FC during the summer of 2025. He helped the USL II club reach the championship game in August.

“I also want to give a shout-out to our GK coach, Nick Vorberg, who is one of the top college GK coaches in the country, and his relationship with the Sounders played a big part,” Broadhead said. “Every GK here at Utah Tech has been in great hands with coach Vorberg, and we plan on continuing that success from here on out.”

Short plans to return to Ballard FC this summer and finish his collegiate career at Washington in the fall.