Adirondack Lynx

Women's Professional Soccer draft confirms the WPSL is the top amateur league in the world

9 of the top 11 players chosen have ties to the Women's Premier Soccer League

image:University of Hartford

The first WPS Draft of the Women's Pro League confirms that the Adirondack Lynx is playing in the top amateur women's league in the world. 9 of the top 11 players chosen for the WPS draft had played in the WPSL.

By AL Staff -- AdirondackLynx.com

Friday, January 16, 2009

- In todays first ever WPS draft at the NSCAA convention in St. Louis, 9 of the top 11 players chosen honed their skills in the WPSL.

"It is a great day for the WPSL but more so for the sport of women's soccer," said League Commissioner Jerry Zanelli, who is also the owner of the WPSL's California Storm & Director of Player Development for F.C. Gold Pride (WPS). "To have nine of the first 11 picks in today's WPS Draft connected to our league is truly gratifying, but as a whole, no where close to the satisfaction when it comes to the players themselves. This is all for them and what our league is truly about - developing players for the next level."

West Coast F.C.'s Amy Rodriguez was selected 1st overall by the Boston Breakers - she had signed with the West coast FC prior to the 2008 season but was called up to the gold-medal winning U.S. Women's National Team for the Olympic Games this past summer after an injury to Abby Wambach. The second selection was Megan Rapinoe (Elk Grove Pride) who will join former Adirondack Lynx's Australian international standout Heather Garriock at the Chicago Red Stars.

Todays draft confirms that the WPSL is one of the top amateur women's leagues in the world. In 2006 the Adirondack Lynx established itself and joined the WPSL in order to afford women the opportunity to prepare themselves to compete at the highest levels” - PJ Motsiff,owner & GM of the Adirondack Lynx

The Long Island Fury, whom Adirondack lost to in the 2006 WPSL Eastern Conference Finals were honored with two selections in the First Round, Christina DiMartino (3rd overall, F.C Gold Pride) and Allie Long (7th overall, Washington). Alex Singer (Univ. of Virginia) - a starter on Long Island's 2006 WPSL National Championship team - was selected with the first pick (8th overall) of the 2nd Round.

Other WPSL standouts selected in the first 2 rounds included Kia McNeill (9th overall to St. Louis, All-WPSL selection with Bay State Select) and five-time All-WPSL selection Meghan Schnur (11th overall to Sky Blue F.C.), as well as Brittany Bock (5th overall to Los Angeles) who played for the 2005 WPSL & U.S. Open Cup Champion F.C. Indiana squad.

image:Jim Carroll

Nikki Cross (#16) of Soccerplus CT challenges Adk's, Kylie Watt for a ball this past summer at Siena College in Albany, NY. Cross was chosen as the #34 pick by St. Louis. in the first WPS draft.

Lynx Owner/General Manager, PJ Motsiff is excited about the WPS moving forward even with the economic downfall within the US. "Obviously, the league (WPS) is confident it has the resources to assist female soccer players in obtaining their DREAMS! Just as impressive was that 9 of the 11 top players chosen in the first 2 rounds had ties to WPSL teams. In fact 29 players from the 10 rounds wore WPSL jerseys at some point in their career to keep them on top of their game for this historic day. Todays draft confirms that the WPSL is one of the top amateur women's leagues in the world. In 2006 the Adirondack Lynx established itself and joined the WPSL in order to afford women the opportunity to prepare themselves to compete at the highest levels."

The Following drafted players have suited up for WPSL teams prior to their opportunity to turn professional.

2009 WPS DRAFT
No. of pick / Round - Player Name - WPSL club (WPS club)
#1 / 1st - Amy Rodriguez - West Coast F.C. (BOSTON)
#2 / 1st - Megan Rapinoe - Elk Grove Pride (CHICAGO)
#3 / 1st - Christina DiMartino - Long Island Fury (F.C. GOLD PRIDE)
#5 / 1st - Brittany Bock - FCI (LOS ANGELES SOL)
#7 / 1st - Allie Long - Long Island Fury (WASHINGTON)
#8 / 2nd - Alex Singer - Long Island Fury (WASHINGTON)
#9 / 2nd - Kia McNeill - Bay State Select/New England Mutiny (ST. LOUIS)
#10 / 2nd - Allison Falk - California Storm (LOS ANGELES SOL)
#11 / 2nd - Meghan Schnur - New England Mutiny (SKY BLUE F.C.)
#16 / 3rd - Natalie Spilger - California Storm (CHICAGO)
#17 / 3rd - Tiffany Weimer - SoccerPlus CT (F.C. GOLD PRIDE)
#18 / 3rd - Karen Bardsley - Ajax America (SKY BLUE F.C.)
#24 / 4th - Christie Shaner - FCI (SKY BLUE F.C.)
#28 / 4th - Chioma Igwe - SoccerPlus CT (CHICAGO)
#29 / 5th - Jennie Nobis - River Cities F.C. (BOSTON)
#30 / 5th - Stacey Tullock - Arizona Rush (CHICAGO)
#32 / 5th - Julianne Sitch - FCI (SKY BLUE F.C.)
#34 / 5th - Niki Cross - SoccerPlus CT (ST. LOUIS)
#36 / 6th - Rebecca Moros - Long Island Fury (WASHINGTON)
#38 / 6th - Katie Hooker - Denver Diamonds (LOS ANGELES SOL)
#40 / 6th - Leigh Ann Robinson - SD United (F.C. GOLD PRIDE)
#44 / 7th - Lauren Sesselman - FCI (CHICAGO)
#45 / 7th - Brandi Chastain - California Storm (F.C. GOLD PRIDE)
#46 / 7th - Ouying Zhang - SDWFC (SKY BLUE F.C.)
#48 / 7th - Lisa Stoia - Steel City Sparks (ST. LOUIS)
#55 / 8th - Kat Tarr - FC St. Louis (CHICAGO)
#57 / 9th - Allison Martino - Rush Salt Lake City (BOSTON)
#64 / 10th - Christen Karniski - FCI (WASHINGTON)
#68 / 10th - Stacie Alberico - California Storm (F.C. GOLD PRIDE)

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