#8 Nick Besler 2013-14 Men's Soccer Roster

AS A SENIOR (2014): Selected fifth overall by the Portland Timbers in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, becoming the 25th Notre Dame draft pick into the MLS since 1997 … named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America second team … NSCAA Division I All-South Region first team selection … named to the all-ACC first team for the second straight year … played every minute of all 21 games as a senior tri-captain, scoring one goal and adding two assists from the Irish midfield … fired one shot on goal in a 2-1 Notre Dame win against No. 12 Marquette to open the season at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic … provided the primary assist on the first goal of a 4-1 win over Dartmouth in the opening home contest at Alumni Stadium … logged two shots apiece in a loss to Kentucky and a draw at No. 5 Virginia … headed in season’s only goal in the 107th minute off a corner kick to send the Irish to a 1-0 win in double overtime over VCU … earned an assist on the final Notre Dame goal to defeat No. 15 Virginia 3-0 in an ACC Championship quarterfinal match … fourth career monogram.

AS A JUNIOR (2013): A starter in all 16 games in which he played … missed eight games due to a leg injury … played every minute in 14 of the 16 contests he appeared in … selected to All-ACC First Team and to the NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region First Team … named to the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic All-Tournament Team after helping the Fighting Irish draw with UCLA (0-0) and defeat SMU (2-1) en route to the title … was injured in the regular-season meeting with Maryland on Oct. 8 and returned to the pitch Nov. 15 against Virginia in the semifinals of the ACC Championship … assisted on the goal that tied the national championship game 1-1 in the 40th minute and the Irish would go on to top Maryland, 2-1 … named to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team … earned his third monogram.

AS A SOPHOMORE (2012): Started every match and tallied four points on one goal and two assists … All-BIG EAST Third Team … named to the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic All-Tournament Team as he helped the Irish post wins over San Diego State (3-2) and Clemson (2-1) … picked up his first career point when he assisted on the team’s third goal in a 6-1 win at Seton Hall … had a goal and an assist in the 3-2 overtime victory over Georgetown in the final of the BIG EAST Championship … netted the equalizer with just 32 seconds left in regulation and then assisted on the golden goal in the win against the Hoyas that clinched the league title for the Irish … selected to the BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament Team … earned his second monogram.

AS A FRESHMAN (2011): Came off the bench in 13 matches for the Fighting Irish … gave the Irish valuable minutes in the central midfield … made his collegiate debut in the second game of the season, a 4-1 win over Dayton at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic … earned a monogram.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: NSCAA All-American (2010) … NSCAA 2010 Kansas Player of the Year … ESPNRise.com 2010 fall All-America team … 2010 Kansas City Metro Player of the Year … two-time Eastern Kansas League Offensive Player of the Year (2009 & 2010) … four-year varsity letterwinner at Blue Valley West … as a senior, tallied a school-record 27 goals and also had nine assists … registered a school-record 47 career goals in addition to posting 24 assists … helped the 2010 team to a 20-1 record and the Kansas 6A state title … the 2010 team was ranked No. 12 nationally according to the NSCAA and ESPNRise.com Fab 50 … captained his high school squad during his senior campaign … five-time Kansas State Cup champion (2005-09, 2011) with his KCFC Rangers 92-93′ squad … five-time captain of his club team … U.S. ODP Region II 93′ Regional Team in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and was the team captain in `09 and `10 … U.S. Youth Soccer Region II regional qualifier (2005-11) … U.S. Youth Soccer Region II finalist in 2008 and Midwest Region League champion that same season … attended the Notre Dame Elite Soccer Camp in 2008, 2009 and 2010 … selected to the Notre Dame Elite Soccer Camp All-Star Team in 2009 … received the inaugural Kevin Gray Youth Player of the Year Award in August of 2011 … the award is presented to the top youth player in the Kansas City area … older brother, Matt, played at Notre Dame from 2006-09 and was an All-American and an Academic All-American … Matt currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in the MLS and is a member of the United States Senior National Team … son of Greg and Diane Besler … graduated from Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business with a degree in management consulting.

Besler’s Career Statistics