Vancouver Whitecaps sign draft pick Cole Seiler

The Vancouver Whitecaps announced Monday the club has signed Cole Seiler to a senior-team contract after being drafted 16th overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft out of Georgetown University.

"We've had our eyes on Cole for a while now and he's shown in training camp how he can fit right in with our club," Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson said. "He's a smart player who stood out in the combine and has adjusted well to this level in preseason. He's a great pickup for us."

Seiler, 22, made 86 appearances with Georgetown, captaining the team to its first-ever Big East Tournament championship in 2015. The 6-foot-1 central defender kept 43 clean sheets in that time and also made seven appearances with the U.S. Under-17 national team.

"First and foremost, I am thankful to my parents for all the sacrifices they made towards my future both economically and with their time," Seiler said. "I'm excited to be a member of this club and I look forward to the opportunity to continue developing my skills with the technical staff, as well as my teammates."