[AMERICANS ABROAD] You win some, you lose some. MLS beat out a number of Scandinavian clubs, including Sweden's Djurgarden, for Akron's Darren Mattocks, but it lost Virginia sophomore Cobi Span, who was projected to be a top 10 pick in the MLS SuperDraft.

Span's signing by Djurgarden continues the move of top-flight college talent to Sweden that began in 2007 when Charlie Davies joined Hammarby.

Davies' success in the Allsvenkan and that of BC teammate Alejandro Bedoya at Orebro have only increased the interest of Swedish clubs in American players. (Young defender Gale Agbossoumonde was also briefly at Djurgarden.)

The 19-year-old Span, nicknamed after former U.S. star Cobi Jones, was considered one of the top athletes in college.

He was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2011, scoring seven goals and five assists in 21 games. He had five goals and three assists in 2010.

Span briefly attended the U.S. U-17 residency program and played for FC Westchester in the Development Academy.