Missouri State men’s soccer standout Justin Douglass was selected by the Houston Dynamo with the third pick of the fourth round, and the 42nd selection overall, in Major League Soccer’s 2007 Supplemental Draft on Thursday. Douglass, a native of Spring, Texas, will play less than 30 miles from his hometown.

"We are thrilled for Justin and it is a well-deserved honor," said Missouri State men’s soccer coach Jon Leamy. "His success athletically and academically at the collegiate level was very impressive. For him to be drafted by his hometown team is very exciting and rewarding for Justin."

Douglass earned First Team All-MVC honors for the second consecutive season and was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-Midwest Region Second Team in 2006. The senior defender started all 19 matches for Missouri State this season and tallied 69 starts in his career. The Strake Jesuit High grad scored three goals and added three assists on offense and anchored the Bears’ backline on defense, which helped record seven shutouts. Douglass was also named to the 2006 MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team for the second-consecutive season and was named the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Sept. 13. Last season as a junior, Douglass was named a Second Team NSCAA/Adidas Men’s Scholar All-American and Third Team CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American, as he became only the second player in school history to earn both awards. Douglass maintains a 3.18 grade-point average in cell and molecular biology.

The Houston Dynamo will begin its second season in 2007 after relocating from San Jose in December of 2005 and are coached by the 2005 MLS Coach of the Year, Dominic Kinnear.