Jan. 14, 2016

by Tony Jones

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — A pair of 2015 University of Notre Dame men’s soccer captains took their next step toward a career in professional soccer on Thursday after being chosen in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.

Fifth-year senior left back Max Lachowecki (Evansville, Indiana/Reitz Memorial) was the fifth pick of the second round (25th overall) by Real Salt Lake, while senior midfielder Patrick Hodan (Brookfield, Wisconsin/Marquette University High School) was selected three slots later as the 28th overall pick by the San Jose Earthquakes during the annual MLS entry draft in Baltimore, Maryland.

The selections of Lachowecki and Hodan extended Notre Dame’s total number of MLS SuperDraft picks to 25 dating back to 2004, including 20 players that have gone off the board in the first two rounds. The Irish have also had multiple players chosen during the same MLS SuperDraft on 11 occasions in that span, including 10 of the past 11 years.

Lachowecki claimed all-region honors for the first time after enjoying his best collegiate season at left back for Notre Dame in 2015. Lachowecki tied a career-high with three goals and established personal bests in both assists (5) and points (11) to lead all Irish defenders in scoring, with his assist total tying for third and points total tying for fourth on the Notre Dame roster. He also played a key role in Notre Dame’s 10 team shutouts in 2015.

No. 25 overall: @RealSaltLake select @NDMenSoccer defender @MAX_sWELLy. #SuperDraft pic.twitter.com/txBS2q68YP

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 14, 2016

Lachowecki was a four-year starter for the Irish from 2012-15, notching eight goals and nine assists (25 points) in 85 career starts. Four of Lachowecki’s eight career goals were game-winning tallies. He earned his first all-conference scroll by being named to the all-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) second team in November.

Hodan closed his standout Notre Dame career as a three-time NSCAA all-region recipient, adding his 2015 second team honor to a 2014 first team scroll and a third team citation in 2013. Hodan was recognized for his stellar work on the field and in the classroom as the 2015 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America of the Year® for Division I men’s soccer in November, and he concluded his senior season with three goals and a career-high six assists (12 points). His assist count led all Notre Dame players, while his goal and point totals were third on the Irish roster in 2015.

Pick No. 28 is in: @SJEarthquakes select @NDMenSoccer midfielder Patrick Hodan: https://t.co/aaNdIMbHxA #SuperDraft pic.twitter.com/rNatO5k9O8

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 14, 2016

Hodan scored 29 goals and added 17 assists in 87 career matches (51 starts) at Notre Dame, connecting on 10 game-winning goals during his four-year tenure with the Irish. He was a 2014 NSCAA All-America first team choice, the 2014 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, a three-time all-ACC selection (2013 and 2015 second team, 2014 first team) and a semifinalist for the 2014 MAC Hermann Trophy.

Wake Forest’s Jack Harrison, who was named the 2015 ACC Offensive Player of the Year and ACC Freshman of the Year, was the first overall choice in Thursday’s MLS SuperDraft by the Chicago Fire before having his rights traded to New York City FC. A total of 13 ACC alumni, including Lachowecki and Hodan, were selected in the first two rounds (41 picks) of the 2016 draft to lead all NCAA Division I conferences.

The third and fourth rounds of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft will be held on Jan. 19 (Tuesday), with team selections being made via conference call.

Notre Dame All-Time MLS Draft Selections (since 1997)

2016 SuperDraft
Max Lachowecki (D)
Real Salt Lake – Second Round – 25th overall selection

Patrick Hodan (M)
San Jose Earthquakes – Second Round – 28th overall selection

2015 SuperDraft
Nick Besler (M)
Portland Timbers – First Round – 5th overall selection

2014 SuperDraft
Grant Van De Casteele (D)
Colorado Rapids – First Round – 19th overall selection

Harrison Shipp (F)
Was not drafted because he signed with the Chicago Fire as a Homegrown Player

2013 SuperDraft
Ryan Finley (F)
Columbus Crew – First Round – 9th overall selection

Dillon Powers (M)
Colorado Rapids – First Round – 11th 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

2012 SuperDraft
Aaron Maund (D)
Toronto FC – First Round – 12th overall selection

Brendan King (M)
Portland Timbers -Second Round – 27th overall selection

2012 Supplemental Draft
Greg Klazura (D)
Vancouver Whitecaps – Second Round – 21st 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

2011 Supplemental Draft
Philip Tuttle (G)
San Jose Earthquakes – Second Round – 33rd 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

Tony Jones, athletics communications assistant at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2012 and coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame softball and men’s soccer programs. A native of Jamestown, New York, Jones is a 2011 graduate of St. Bonaventure University, and prior to arriving at Notre Dame held positions at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and with the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills.