LEXINGTON – Kentucky goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum was taken by the Columbus Crew with the third overall pick in the Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft on Friday.

Hailed as one of the top goalkeepers at the MLS Combine two weeks ago, Gruenebaum was the first keeper chosen on Friday. He goes to a Crew team that finished last in the Eastern Conference a year ago.

Gruenebaum was a first-team All-Conference USA and first-team All-Great Lakes region goalkeeper a year ago after leading the league with a 0.97 goals-against average. The Overland Park, Kan., native ranked among the nation’s leaders in goals against as both a sophomore and junior en route to a pre-season All-America selection heading into the 2005 campaign.

Gruenebaum is the first Wildcat to ever be drafted by an MLS team. He reports to preseason camp on Jan. 29 before the team heads south to Bradenton, Fla., to begin training for the 2006 season.