Jan. 12, 2012

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Casey Townsend became the eighth Terrapin to be drafted with a top five pick in the MLS SuperDraft Thursday. The senior forward was selected fifth overall by Chivas USA.

Townsend was named an NSCAA Second Team All-American and a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist this season while garnering first team All-ACC honors for the second straight year. The Traverse City, Mich., product racked up 17 goals as a captain for the Terps.

Townsend, a four-year starter, is tied for third on Maryland's all-time scoring list with 43 goals and is also tied for sixth in Maryland single-season scoring with 17 in 2011.

"We couldn't be more proud of Casey today," head coach Sasho Cirovski said. "After being such a workhorse for our program the last four years, we can't wait to see Casey flourish as he takes the next step in his professional career. I am positive I speak for all of Terrapin Nation when I say we wish Casey nothing but the absolute best in the MLS."

The captain became Maryland's fourth top 10 pick in the draft in the last three seasons, joining Zac MacMath (fifth overall - Philadelphia), Omar Gonzalez (third overall - Los Angeles), and Rodney Wallace (sixth overall - D.C. United).

Townsend is the eighth top five pick for the Terps all-time, joining Leo Cullen (1998 - first), Taylor Twellman (2002 - second), Jason Garey (2006 - third), Chris Seitz (2007 - fourth), Maurice Edu (2007 - first), Gonzalez (2009 - third), and MacMath (2011 - fifth).

Below is a breakdown of Maryland in the MLS SuperDraft:
2012 - Casey Townsend, first round (fifth overall)
2011 - Zac MacMath, first round (fifth overall)
2011 - Billy Cortes, third round (38th overall)
2011 - Jason Herrick, third round (45th overall)
2010 - Drew Yates, second round (29th overall)
2010 - Kevin Tangney, third round (35th overall)
2009 - Omar Gonzalez, first round (third overall)
2009 - Rodney Wallace, first round (sixth overall)
2009 - Jeremy Hall, first round (11th overall)
2009 - A.J. Delagarza, second round (19th overall)
2009 - Graham Zusi, second round (23rd overall)
2008 - Stephen King, third round (40th overall)
2007 - Maurice Edu, first round (first overall)
2007 - Chris Seitz, first round (fourth overall)
2006 - Jason Garey, first round, (third overall)
2006 - Marc Burch, second round (24th overall)
2006 - Michael Dello-Russo, fourth round (42nd overall)
2006 - Kenney Bertz, fourth round (47th overall)
2005 - Domenic Mediate, second round (23rd overall)
2005 - Abe Thompson, supplemental draft second round (16th overall)
2005 - Noah Palmer, supplemental draft third round (25th overall)
2004 - Clarence Goodson, first round (seventh overall)
2004 - Scott Buete, first round (ninth overall)
2004 - Seth Stammler, second round (18th overall)
2004 - Sumed Ibrahim, second round (20th overall)
2002 - Taylor Twellman, first round (second overall)
2001 - Nick Downing, second round (21st overall)
2000 - Dan Califf, first round (sixth overall)
1999 - Keith Beach, second round (17th overall)
1999 - Randy Merkel, third round (33rd overall)
1998 - Leo Cullen, first round (first overall)
1998 - R.T. Moore, third round (34th overall)