Jan. 14, 2010
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.--Members of the Penn State women's soccer team are in Philadelphia this week at the 2010 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention. Friday will serve as the women's turn in the spotlight as the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league makes its selections.
Head coach Erica Walsh, her staff, along with seniors Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) and Katie Schoepfer (Waterford, Conn.), are on hand at the Philadelphia Convention Center for this week's NSCAA Convention. Friday's WPS draft begins at 10 a.m., live updates can be found on the WPS Twitter feed (@womensprosoccer).
Expansion-team Atlanta Beat has the opening pick followed by the Boston Breakers, FC Gold Pride (Bay Area, Calif.), Chicago Red Stars and Los Angeles Sol. Rounding out the first round are Sky Blue FC (New Jersey), Washington Freedom, L.A. (eighth and ninth picks), FC Gold Pride and Boston.
In all, seven rounds will take place for each team with an additional pick at the end of Round One for Atlanta and fellow expansion team Philadelphia Independence. After Round One, each round will have nine picks.
In pre-draft predictions by WPS media experts, Dan Lauletta of womensprosoccer.com has Schoepfer going to Sky Blue FC in the sixth slot. Prior to this week, Naeher was named among the top four goalkeepers entering the draft. Naeher departs for Carson, Calif. immediately following the draft to take part in a 26-player U.S. Women's National Team training camp that will run until Feb. 4, which will settle on an 18-player roster for the 2010 Algarve Cup in Portgual (Feb. 24-Mar. 3).
For complete coverage of Penn State women's soccer, please visit http://www.GoPSUsports.com/sports/w-soccer.
Follow Penn State women's soccer on Twitter: @PSUWomensSoccer
--NITTANY LIONS--