Flash Select Five in 2014 Nwsl Draft
January 17, 2014 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Western New York Flash News Release
Elma, N.Y. (Friday, January 17, 2014) - On Friday, the Western New York Flash added five players to its roster at the 2014 National Women's Soccer League Draft in Philadelphia, Pa. Entering the draft, the Flash held five selections. As the 2013 Regular-Season Champion, Western New York had the final pick in each round (9th, 18th, 27th and 36th); the team also held the 14th overall pick after a trade with Boston early in the 2013 season.
With its first pick, the Flash selected Courtney Verloo, a versatile player out of Stanford University. The club followed with two picks in the second round, taking Cloee Colohan from Brigham Young University and Kelsey Wys from Florida State University. In the third round, the Flash selected former Virginia defender /midfielder Annie Steinlage and closed out the 2014 draft with Denver's Kristen Hamilton.
"We were happy with who we selected," Flash head coach Aaran Lines said. "All of our selections have experience playing at a top program and I believe that will transition greatly to our club."
A graduate of Stanford University, Verloo finished her career with 71 points on 23 goals and 25 assists. The Tualatin, Ore. native earned All-America honors during her sophomore season, when she switched from forward to defender. As a redshirt during the 2011 season, the Cardinal won the NCAA Championship and Verloo returned from her injury the following year to lead the team in goals (10), assists (11) and points (31). As a fifth-year senior, Verloo earned All-Pac 12 First Team honors at forward, after posting a team-high 24 points (9g, 6a). In 2012, Verloo and Stanford reached the NCAA Quarterfinals where they ultimately bowed out to eventual Champion UNC.
Verloo also has accumulated experience at the international level as member of U.S. Women's National Youth Teams. In 2012, the 5-9 player was called into the U.S. Under-23 National Team camp after previously spending time with the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cup teams. In 2010, Verloo played for the U.S. in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Germany. Two-years prior, she captained the Under-17 squad that finished second in the inaugural FIFA Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand, scoring 12 goals in 13 matches while on that team.
"I'm honored to be drafted so highly. The Western New York Flash is a great team, so it's an awesome feeling," Verloo said. "I expect, from a team who got to the Final, that it's a competitive atmosphere and the work ethic is going to be amazing."
Colohan, a midfielder from Brigham Young University, was named an NSCAA All-American as a senior, recording six goals and 16 points in 21 games. Transferring to BYU from the University of Portland following her sophomore year, she earned All-West Coast Conference honors in all four years. In her two seasons at BYU, Colohan saw time in every game for the Cougars and the team won the West Coast Conference title both years.
The West Point, Utah native is a former captain of both the U.S. Under-17 (where she played with Verloo in 2008) and Under-20 National Teams and has most recently spent time with the Under-23 National Team.
"I'm most excited to learn," Colohan said of the opportunity. "To become better, to learn a new style, to learn from new coaches and meet these new girls. I think all of it will just be a huge experience and opportunity for me to grow in so many different ways, both on and off the field."
Wys, the first goalkeeper to be drafted, is coming off an appearance in the NCAA National Championship game. In her senior year, Wys and Florida State beat Virginia Tech to advance to the 2013 Championship game, where the team fell to UCLA in overtime. From her sophomore season on, Wys led the Seminoles to three-straight NCAA Final Four appearances. The Coral Springs, Fla. native finished her career holding 17 goalkeeping records in FSU history including minutes played (8,518), wins (74), shutouts (45) and starts (96).
A three-time All-ACC selection, Wys earned All-American honors in 2012 and was on the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list in 2013. The Seminoles were ACC Champions in both 2011 and 2013, while Wys was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player in the former year. On the international stage, the goalkeeper has been called into training camps multiple times with the U.S. Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 teams, seeing time in 2008 in the CONCACAF U-17 National Tournament.
The Flash's lone selection of the third round, Steinlage, played three seasons at Michigan State before transferring to Virginia for her senior year. While with the Spartans, the defender was an All-Big Ten First Team selection in 2011 and 2012. In her one year at Virginia, the Grand Haven, Mich. native started in all 26 games for the Cavaliers and helped lead the team to the top ranking in the NCAA Championship tournament and reached the Final Four before falling in penalty kicks to eventual champion UCLA. Steinlage scored one goal and assisted on six in her senior season and, over her career at both Virginia and Michigan State, started in all 85 games played.
With their fifth and final pick of the Draft, the Flash selected Hamilton from the University of Denver. The forward ended her career as the school's all-time leader in points (138) and goals (51) and started all 88 games of her career. In her final campaign, Hamilton racked up 40 points (14g, 13a) to lead the Summit League.
While a member of the Pioneers, Hamilton became the only player in NCAA Division I history to be named Player of the Year for three different conferences (2011 - Sun Belt, 2012 - WAC, 2013 - Summit League) and is just one of 25 players, in all divisions, to finish their career with over 30 goals and over 20 assists. In addition, in 2013 Hamilton played for the Colorado Rapids Women of the W-League where she posted 20 points on eight goals and four assists.
"It's just an incredible experience, definitely something that you dream of as a little kid growing up playing soccer," said Hamilton. "I think the biggest transition is going to be moving to a new city that I haven't been to and having to play with players who are all extremely talented. They are all very, very good players - very quick - so it's just going to make me have to be that much better and be a lot sharper. I'm looking forward to it."
The NWSL will begin the 2014 season in April with season tickets now available through the Sahlen's Stadium Box Office. Tickets can be purchased online at wnyflash.com or by phone at (585) 454-KICK.
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National Women's Soccer League Stories from January 17, 2014
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- Flash Select Five in 2014 Nwsl Draft - Western New York Flash
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