Notre Dame soccer: ND star picked in 1st round

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, of 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.