Notre Dame midfielder Nick Besler has been chosen by the Portland Timbers with the fifth pick in the MLS SuperDraft. Photo/Twitter (@NDMenSoccer)
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]ith the fifth-overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, the Portland Timbers have chosen Notre Dame Nick Besler.
Besler, a 6-foot midfielder from Overland Park, KS, played all four years with the Irish, tallying two goals and five assists through 72 games played total. The 2014 captain started all 21 games for the Irish during his senior year, nearly reaching 2,000 minutes played.
During the 2014 campaign, Besler notched a goal and two assists for four points. Five of fifteen shots from Besler were on target for a 33-percent average.
Besler assisted on the tying goal in the 2013 NCAA Nation Championship game in the 40th minute against Maryland. Notre Dame would go on to win the title 2-1. Besler sat out eight games during the championship season with a leg injury, but returned against Virginia in the ACC Championship.
The midfielder follows his brother, Matt Besler, to the MLS. The elder-Besler — also an Irish alum — is a captain with Sporting Kansas City.
