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WPS Chicago Stars FC

Red Stars Select UNC's Engen In WPS Draft

January 15, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Chicago Stars FC News Release


PHILADELPHIA -- The Chicago Red Stars selected University of North Carolina defender Whitney Engen as the fourth overall pick during Friday's 2010 Women's Professional Soccer Draft.

Engen was the first defender chosen in the draft. She was the Tar Heels' center back during her 2008 and 2009 seasons, and she helped North Carolina win three NCAA Championships during her tenure (2006, 2008, 2009). Engen earned the 2009 Honda Sports Award in soccer, which is given to the nation's top collegiate female athlete in the sport. Engen started her collegiate career as a successful forward, posting a combined 57 points during her freshman and sophomore seasons in 2006 and 2007.

Chicago selected another Tar Heel with their second-round pick (15th overall) in forward Jessica McDonald. During her 2009 junior season, McDonald was second on the North Carolina squad with nine goals and 24 points in 26 games. She was a junior college transfer and joined UNC as a sophomore in 2008, shortly into the Tar Heels' season. McDonald started in 17 of the team's final 18 games as the Tar Heels won an NCAA Championship.

The Red Stars drafted two local players with their fourth and sixth picks. In the fourth round with the 33rd overall pick, Chicago selected Naperville, Ill., native and Notre Dame forward Michele Weissenhofer. In the sixth and final round with the 60th pick, the Red Stars chose Geneva, Ill., native and University of Illinois midfielder Jackie Santacaterina.

In the fifth round, Chicago chose Columbia midfielder and forward Sophie Reiser with the 42nd pick. She was the 2008 Ivy League Player of the Year. In the sixth round, San Francisco forward Fiona O'Sullivan was chosen 51st overall. O'Sullivan is a member of Ireland's national team.

RED STARS' 2010 WPS DRAFT PICKS

First round

- No. 4: Whitney Engen, defender, North Carolina

Second round

- No. 15: Jessica McDonald, forward, North Carolina

Third round

- No. 24: Kelsey Davis, goalkeeper, Portland

Fourth round

- No. 33: Michele Weissenhofer, forward, Notre Dame

Fifth round

- No. 42: Sophie Reiser, midfielder/forward, Columbia

Sixth round

- No. 51: Fiona O'Sullivan, forward, San Francisco

Seventh round

- No. 60: Jackie Santacaterina, midfielder, Illinois

PLAYER BIOS:

Whitney Engen

College: University of North Carolina

Hometown: Rolling Hills, Calif.

Position: Defender

Height: 5-7

- At North Carolina ... Earned three NCAA Championships with North Carolina (2006, 2008, 2009). ... Named to 2009 NSCAA Women's NCAA Division I All-America Team. ... Won the 2009 Honda Sports Award in soccer, which recognizes her as the nation's top collegiate female athlete in the sport. ... Was a two-year starter at forward for 2006 and 2007, tallying 18 goals and 21 assists (57 points) in those two seasons.

- National Team experience ... Member of the U.S. U-23 National Team in 2009; trained with the U.S. U-20 National Team in 2006 and 2007.

Jessica McDonald

College: University of North Carolina

Hometown: Glendale, Ariz.

Position: Forward

Height: 6-0

- At North Carolina ... During 2009 junior season, ranked second on the Tar Heels with nine goals and 24 points as she helped North Carolina win an NCAA Championship. ... Had transferred from junior college to play for North Carolina in 2008 as a sophomore, contributing five goals and 10 assists, and started in 17 of UNC's final 18 games en route to an NCAA Championship.

- National Team experience ... Member of the U.S. U-23 National Team in 2009.

Kelsey Davis

College: University of Portland

Hometown: Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Position: Goalkeeper

Height: 5-10

- At Portland ... Earned 2009 NSCAA All-America Second Team honors. ... A three-year starter for the Pilots, capping her career ranked No. 2 in program history in best goals-against average (0.47) and No. 3 in shutouts (34). ... In her senior season, Davis held a 15-1-0 record with 11 shutouts and 50 saves in regular-season play.

- National Team experience: Member of the U.S. Women's National Team in 2009. ... Member of the U.S. U-23 National Team in 2008. ... Played for the U.S. U-21 National Team from 2006 to 2007, helping win the Nordic Cup in 2007. ... Member of the U.S. U-20 National Team from 2004 to 2005.

Michele Weissenhofer

College: University of Notre Dame

Hometown: Naperville, Ill.

Position: Forward

Height: 5-4

- At Notre Dame ... In 2006, named Soccer America National Freshman of the Year when she tallied 18 goals, 17 assists and 53 points in 27 games. ... Through her career for the Irish, she scored 30 goals and had 28 assists in regular-season play. In the postseason, Weiseenhofer had 12 goals (seven game-winners) and five assists. ... Holds Notre Dame record for game-winning goals and points in one season (four goals, nine points in 2006).

- National Team experience ... Member of the U.S. U-23 National Team pool in 2009. ... Member of the U.S. U-21 National Team and was part of the U.S. team that won the 2007 Nordic Cup, scoring a goal in the title match against Germany.

- Locally ... Attended Neuqua Valley High School and played club soccer with Eclipse Select. ... Earned a state title in 2005 when she scored three goals to lead Neuqua to a comeback victory over New Trier in the championship game.

Sophie Reiser

College: Columbia University

Hometown: Seattle, Wash.

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-4

- At Columbia ... Three-time All-Ivy League First Team. ... Named 2008 Ivy League Player of the Year during her junior season when she posted 12 goals and 11 assists in 17 matches. ... Holds Columbia's assists record (28) and is ranked second in points (83) and third in goals scored (26).

Fiona O'Sullivan

College: University of San Francisco

Hometown: San Geronimo, Calif.

Position: Forward

Height: 5-10

- At San Francisco ... Played for San Francisco from 2004 to 2007. ... Despite a knee injury that forced her to miss half of her junior season in 2006, O'Sullivan still led the team with five goals, the highlight being a hat trick against San Jose State.

- National Team experience ... Is a member of the Ireland National Team.

Jackie Santacaterina

College: University of Illinois

Hometown: Geneva, Ill.

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-8

- At Illinois ... In four seasons, posted four goals and eight assists in 84 games for the Illini.

- Locally ... Led Geneva High School to third-place finish in 2005 IHSA Class AA tournament. ... Named Suburban Prairie North Conference MVP in 2004 and 2005. ... Named 2005 Kane County Player of the Year after scoring 15 goals and tallying 15 assists in 25 games for Geneva. ... Had 49 goals and 47 assists in 70 games in her Geneva career. ... Led Eclipse Select to U.S. Youth Soccer Association national titles in 2004 and 2005, and a Region II title in 2006.

The Chicago Red Stars are members of Women's Professional Soccer and play their home games at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. The Red Stars' 2010 home opener takes place on Saturday, April 17, against Saint Louis Athletica. For more information about the Red Stars, log on to www.ChicagoRedStars.com or call 866-WPS-2009.

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