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Two UConn soccer players were drafted in the first round of today's MLS draft. Sophomore defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste was drafted by the Portland Timbers with the eighth overall pick. Senior midfielder Tony Cascio followed him into the pros six picks later when he was drafted by the Colorado Rapids.
Jean-Baptise has the distinction of being the fourth-highest draft pick to come out of UConn, and the highest since O'Brian White was drafted by Toronto with the fourth pick in 2009. In 2002 defender Chris Gbandi was the first overall pick and midfielder Mansour Ndiaye was the seventh pick.