Jan. 15, 2016
NWSL College Draft Results
BALTIMORE -- A trio of Nittany Lions were selected Friday during the 2016 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) College Draft at the annual National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention. All three 2015 Nittany Lion captains were selected in the fourth-annual NWSL College Draft. The 2016 NWSL College Draft marks the fourth-consecutive year a Nittany Lion was chosen in a women's soccer professional league draft.
The day started out for the Nittany Lions with Raquel Rodriguez (San Jose, Costa Rica) being selected as the No. 2 overall pick by Sky Blue FC, followed by Mallory Weber (Novi, Mich.) joining the Western New York Flash at No. 14 and Britt Eckerstrom (Germantown, Md.) was the first goalkeeper taken on the day with the No. 26 pick by the Western New York Flash.
"We're thrilled to have our three senior captains taken in the 2016 NWSL draft," head coach Erica Walsh said. "Britt, Mallory and Raquel have finished their careers on a high note this fall and were all instrumental in the program winning its first-ever national championship. They are each capable and prepared to move to the next step in their careers and become professional players. Our community has been blessed to watch them compete on Jeffrey Field over the past four years and they will certainly go down in the record books as three of our program's best. We are all incredibly proud of the way they have represented Penn State University and will continue to track their success for years to come."
"This is very exciting," Rodriguez said. "I am very grateful to be here and I first want to say thank you to my family, I know they are watching live and I want to give a shout out to my cousin who came all the way from Costa Rica to support me. I also want to give a special thank you to my school, Penn State University for giving me the opportunity to come to the United States to play soccer. Thank you so much for developing me, for supporting me and just making me a better soccer player and a better professional out of me. Finally, I want to give thanks to Sky Blue, thank you for believing in me, for having faith in me and I am looking forward to being a part of the team and contributing."
Rodriguez becomes the highest pick in the NWSL College Draft in Nittany Lion history (Hayes - sixth - 2014). Fittingly, Rodriguez joins former teammate Maya Hayes, who was selected sixth overall by Sky Blue FC in 2014. Hayes and Rodriguez started together in Penn State's first-ever College Cup Final in 2012.
Rodriguez' honors this season include: MAC Hermann Trophy winner, Honda Sport Award winner, CONCACAF Female Player of the Year nominee, Most Outstanding Player on Offense of the Women's College Cup, Women's College Cup All-Tournament Team, NSCAA Scholar Player of the Year, NSCAA Scholar First Team All-American, NSCAA All-Great Lakes First Team, NSCAA First Team All-American, All-Big Ten First Team, Academic All-Big Ten, TopDrawerSoccer Best XI First Team, TopDrawerSoccer's Player of the Year and 2015 College Sports Information of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Two first team.
In the Penn State record books, Rodriguez ranks 16th in points (74), 18th in goals (23), T-15th in game-winning goals (nine), T-8th in assists (28), 12th in shots attempted (187), 10th in shots on goal (77) and T-17th in games started (90).
"I want to thank the Western New York Flash for giving me this opportunity to continue my career as a soccer player and all the thanks in the world to my Penn state coaches, Erica Walsh, Ann Cook and Tim Wassell," Weber said. "I wouldn't have grown into the player I am without them."
Weber capped off her Nittany Lion career by tallying an assist on Rodriguez' game-winning goal in the 2015 College Cup Final. Weber recorded eight goals and 11 assists in the 2015 season. Weber's 11 assists this past season led the Nittany Lions and the Big Ten. Her 2015 awards include: College Cup All-Tournament team, NSCAA All-Great Lakes Second team, All-Big Ten First Team and Academic All-Big Ten.
During her Nittany Lion career, Weber played in 100 matches, which included 97 starts. She finished her time in Blue and White with 36 goals, 29 assists and 101 points.
In the all-time Penn State record books, Weber ranks 10th in points (101), 10th in goals (36), ninth in game-winning goals (14), tied for sixth in assists (29), 13th in shots attempts (186), sixth in shots on goal (97), tied for fifth in games played (100), sixth in games started (97) and 11th in minutes played (6,708). Also, her 11 assists in the 2015 season are tied for 10th all-time in the Penn State single-season rankings.
Weber started both College Cup Final matches for the Nittany Lions as a freshman (2012) and a senior (2015).
"First off I would like to thank the Western New York Flash," Eckerstrom said. "Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to play at this next level, I am really excited and next my family, who is here with me today. My coaches, Tim Wassell, who has believed in me and pushed me to be the best I can be and 100 percent due to you I am where I am today. All my friends, all my coaches, my teammates, thank you so much. I am really excited."
During the 2015 season, Eckerstrom started all 27 matches tallying a record of 22-3-2, which included 15 shutouts. Eckerstrom and the Nittany Lion defense ended the 2015 season with eight-straight shutouts. The Nittany Lions did not allow a goal over the final 733:32 of the season and during that span, Eckerstrom played all but 19:23 in net for the Blue and White. Eckerstrom set the fourth-best solo shutout performance in school history with 12 shutouts and she tied Erin McLeod for wins in a season with 22 (2005).
In her Nittany Lion career, Eckerstrom finished with a record of 61-14-3 and her 61 wins rank second all-time at Penn State. She finished her time with Penn State with 255 saves, 77 starts, 24 solo shutouts, 6,966 minutes played and a goals against average of .80.
Her 255 saves rank fourth all-time, her 77 starts rank third-best, her GAA of .80 is third, her 24 solo shutouts is fourth-best and she ranks eighth in minutes played (6,966).
Eckerstrom's 2015 honors include: Academic All-Big Ten, NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team, Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week, All-Big Ten Tournament Team, Defensive Player of the Big Ten Tournament and CoSIDA Academic All-District Two First Team honoree.