Jan. 16, 2014
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame central defender Grant Van De Casteele was selected by the Colorado Rapids in the first round of Thursday’s 2014 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft. Van De Casteele went 19th overall, which was the final pick of the opening round.
Van De Casteele (Plano, Texas) started every match over the past four seasons and the team captain was a key part of Notre Dame’s run to its first national title in December. The fifth-year senior earned third team All-America honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and was a second team Soccer America MVP. He also copped third team all-Atlantic Coast Conference accolades and was selected to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team.
Van De Casteele helped the Fighting Irish post 30 shutouts over the last four seasons. Along with anchoring the Notre Dame backline, he tallied four goals, including three game winners, and one assist in 84 career matches.
Not only did Van De Casteele excel on the pitch at Notre Dame, he compiled an impressive resume in the classroom. He was named to the NSCAA Scholar All-America Second Team this season and was the 2012-13 BIG EAST Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Van De Casteele will team up with his former Notre Dame teammate Dillon Powers on the Rapids’ roster. Powers, a midfielder, was the 2013 MLS Rookie of the Year.
Notre Dame is one of just four schools to have produced a first-round selection in each of the last three MLS SuperDrafts. Connecticut, Louisville and Maryland are the others. Notre Dame has 15 MLS SuperDraft picks since 2008. The Fighting Irish have had 22 MLS SuperDraft picks during the 13-year tenure of head coach Bobby Clark.
The Philadelphia Union selected Connecticut goalkeeper Andre Blake with the first overall selection in Thursday’s draft, which consisted of two rounds and 38 total picks.
Van De Casteele’s fellow Fighting Irish captain Harrison Shipp last week signed with the Chicago Fire as a Homegrown Player.
Notre Dame All-Time MLS Draft Selections
2014 SuperDraft
Grant Van De Casteele (D)
Colorado Rapids – First Round – 19th overall selection
2013 Supplemental Draft
Adam Mena (M)
Vancouver Whitecaps – First Round – 10th overall selection
Michael Rose (M)
Vancouver Whitecaps – First Round – 11th overall selection
2013 SuperDraft
Ryan Finley (F)
Columbus Crew – First Round – 9th overall selection
Dillon Powers (M)
Colorado Rapids – First Round – 11th overall selection
2012 Supplemental Draft
Greg Klazura (D)
Vancouver Whitecaps – Second Round – 21st overall selection
2012 SuperDraft
Aaron Maund (D)
Toronto FC – First Round – 12th overall selection
Brendan King (M)
Portland Timbers -Second Round – 27th overall selection
2011 Supplemental Draft
Philip Tuttle (G)
San Jose Earthquakes – Second Round – 33rd overall selection
2011 SuperDraft
Jeb Brovsky (F/M)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Second Round – 19th overall selection
Bilal Duckett (D)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC -Third Round – 37th overall selection
Steven Perry (F)
New England Revolution -Third Round – 39th overall selection
2010 SuperDraft
Bright Dike (F)
Columbus Crew – First Round – 12th overall selection
Michael Thomas (M)
San Jose Earthquakes – Second Round – 19th overall selection
Justin Morrow (D)
San Jose Earthquakes – Second Round – 28th overall selection
2009 SuperDraft
Matt Besler (D)
Kansas City Wizards – First Round – 8th overall selection
Jack Traynor (D)
New York Red Bulls – Second Round – 29th overall selection
2008 SuperDraft
Ryan Miller (D)
Columbus Crew – Third Round – 31st overall selection
Joseph Lapira (F)
Toronto FC – Third Round – 35th overall selection
2007 SuperDraft
Greg Dalby (M)
Colorado Rapids – Second Round – 17th overall selection
Nate Norman (M)
Chicago Fire – Second Round – 21st overall selection
2005 SuperDraft
Jack Stewart (D)
Chicago Fire – First Round – 10th overall selection
Kevin Goldthwaite (M/D)
San Jose Earthquake – Second Round – 17th overall selection
Chris Sawyer (G)
Kansas City Wizards – Second Round – 24th overall selection
2004 SuperDraft
Kevin Richards (D)
Colorado Rapids – Fourth Round – 35th overall selection
Justin Detter (M/F)
Kansas City Wizards – Fifth Round – 47th overall selection
1999 Supplemental Draft
Ryan Turner (F)
Kansas City – Second Round – 14th overall selection
1997 Supplemental Draft
Dan Stebbins (F)
Dallas – First Round – 4th overall selection
— ND —