METUCHEN, NJ - As United Women's Soccer (UWS) works to finalize details on their Summer 2018 season, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is ramping up for their start of their season in later March. NWSL held their 2018 College Draft in January at the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Convention in Philadelphia and one UWS alum who was selected - former Georgetown University and Lancaster Inferno defender Elizabeth Wenger - had a truly interesting experience in her first glimpse of life in the professional ranks.
The 2017 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year was kind enough to answer a few questions for us regarding her burgeoning NWSL career, the lessons she learned at Georgetown and how the Inferno helped augment her overall soccer experience.
Q: Its been an interesting first few weeks in your professional career. After first being drafted by the Boston Breakers, that team unexpectedly folded and now you're a member of the Washington Spirit after the Dispersal Draft. How does it feel to be a member of the Spirit? It is closer to your home, so that must be great for your family and friends?
A: It has certainly been an interesting first few weeks of my pro career, especially considering I have yet to step on the field. I am excited to have been picked up by the Washington Spirit. All through the draft process, I tried to orient myself with where I might end up. Staying in the District certainly makes this easier as I'm familiar with the city. Also, I am close enough to the Spirit's training facilities to get to more practices this spring as opposed to making sporadic trips up to Boston (I'm still finishing out my senior year at Georgetown). My family are excited that I got picked up by a team within driving distance from home. They get to keep making the same trip they've made so many times over the past four years.
Q: You had a stellar four-year career at Georgetown University, one of the top teams in the BIG EAST if not the country. What was the biggest lesson you learned there that has prepared you for life in the professional ranks?
A: My career at Georgetown has been beyond anything I could have imagined. The biggest lesson I've picked up along the way has been that the little things, the little moments create the bigger ones. The time and effort put into a warm-up technical session, the number of times a certain passing pattern gets run, the focus placed on footwork in a drill, these small parts of the game make a world of difference in the larger game. For example, our 2016 Final Four run was built on the hard work and focus we put into the previous spring, the long hours of preseason, our loss early on to Stanford, and the subsequent wins that built our confidence as a group. Throughout the process, we learned from our mistakes and improved. It was the little moments that formed a base for the big ones.
Overall, it is really important to appreciate every little moment you're on the field. Sometimes, at higher levels of competition it's easy to lose track of why we suit up everyday and step onto the training field. We become too focused on outcomes and the goals we set out for ourselves. It's easy to forget what brought us to the field in the first place, and that is a love for the game, for the competition, the challenge, and the family the sport provides.
Q: You were one of the stalwarts on defense for the Lancaster Inferno during the 2017 season. How was your experience with the team? What did you think of the overall quality of play in UWS?
A: I loved playing with the Lancaster Inferno this past summer. The women I got to play with were not only talented soccer players but awesome people with a great love of the game. I always find it impressive when a group of unfamiliar players come together in a short time to create a cohesive team... and this happens amid "adult" jobs, summer internships, summer vacations, and other responsibilities. That extends to the other teams in the league. The competition is high. The play is quick and the games are fierce. The women on the field are tough and smart. These two characteristics make UWS a fun league to play in.
About United Women’s Soccer (UWS): UWS is a national women’s soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). UWS is a professionally operated league created for teams that meet high minimum standards. The season runs from May until the end of July, culminating in a National Championship match. The UWS player pool is comprised of college players, aspiring & former professionals and international stars. You can follow UWS on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Media can contact UWS Director of Communications Jorma Kansanen by e-mail at UWSPress@gmail.com. You can visit the league’s official website at UWSSoccer.com. Interested team applicants can contact League Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) conducted their 2018 College Draft yesterday at the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Convention in Philadelphia, PA. Two former UWS stars were selected by NWSL teams: forward Michaela Abam was selected No. 4 overall (1st Round) by Sky Blue F.C.; and, defender Elizabeth Wenger was drafted by the Boston Breakers with the 17th overall pick (2nd Round).
Abam starred for the Colorado Pride during the 2016 UWS season, appearing in six of the team's eight games while notching a goal and an assist. Michaela was recently named a 2017 United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American for West Virginia University. She finished her Mountaineer career ranked No. 3 all-time with 42 career goals and No. 4 with 100 points (42 G, 16 A).
Wenger patrolled the backline for the Lancaster Inferno last season, playing the full 90 minutes of seven of the eight games she appeared in. Wenger joined Abam on the 2017 United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team. Elizabeth was a First Team All-Midwest Region honoree after being named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year for Georgetown University.
Fans and friends can find United Women's Soccer at Booth 1405 in the Exhibit Hall at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Friday and Saturday. Follow UWS on social media for live updates and more. For full information on the USC Convention, visit their official website at UnitedSoccerCoachesConvention.org.
About United Women’s Soccer (UWS): UWS is a national women’s soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). UWS is a professionally operated league created for teams that meet high minimum standards. The season runs from May until the end of July, culminating in a National Championship match. The UWS player pool is comprised of college players, aspiring & former professionals and international stars. You can follow UWS on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Media can contact UWS Director of Communications Jorma Kansanen by e-mail at UWSPress@gmail.com. You can visit the league’s official website at UWSSoccer.com. Interested team applicants can contact League Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.
METUCHEN, NJ - The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) will conduct their 2018 College Draft this Thursday, January 18th (10 AM EST) at the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Convention in Philadelphia, PA. It will be held in the CC Grand Ballroom at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. One of the cornerstones of United Women's Soccer (UWS) is to develop talent for the professional ranks and 10 former UWS standouts have registered and are eligible for this year's draft.
The 2018 NWSL College Draft will be live streamed and is open to the public & media. For more information, visit their Draft Hub. Fans and friends can find United Women's Soccer at Booth 1405 in the Exhibit Hall at the PA Convention Center. Follow UWS on social media for live updates and more. For full information on the USC Convention, visit their official website at UnitedSoccerCoachesConvention.org.
"I want to wish all the players involved in Thursday's NWSL College Draft the best of luck in making their professional dreams come true," said UWS Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. "And I'd like to also send kudos to our UWS alumni participating as well. Our member teams strive for development and we all hope these players get a good look at the next level."
Pos. - Name - College (CLUB)
F - Michaela Abam - West Virginia University (COLORADO PRIDE)
GK - Caitlyn Clem - University of Wisconsin (DETROIT SUN F.C.)
D - Bailey Corbin - Nova Southeastern University (LANCASTER INFERNO)
F/MF - Isabella Habuda - Liberty University (DETROIT SUN F.C.)
F - Paige Hayward - Texas Southern University (HOUSTON ACES)
D/MF - Gabrielle Matulich - UCLA (SANTA CLARITA BLUE HEAT)
MF - Jessica Reinhardt - Fairleigh Dickinson University (NEW JERSEY COPA F.C.)
D - Allyson Swaby - Boston College (NEW ENGLAND MUTINY)
MF - Madison Vasquez - Siena College (LONG ISLAND ROUGH RIDERS)
D - Elizabeth Wenger - Georgetown University (LANCASTER INFERNO)
Forward Michaela Abam starred for the Colorado Pride during the 2016 UWS season. Abam was a 2017 United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team selection for West Virginia University this past fall and finished her Mountaineer career ranked No. 3 all-time with 42 career goals and No. 4 with 100 points (42 G, 16 A). The 2017 UWS Defensive Player Of The Year & University of Wisconsin goalkeeper Caitlyn Clem will also take part in the draft. Detroit Sun FC finished in 2nd place in the Midwest last summer and Clem started in seven regular season games (5-1-1 record, 3 shutouts, 7 goals allowed) as well as all three postseason tilts for the 2017 UWS National Semifinalists.
Caitlyn started all 22 matches for Wisconsin (10 shutouts) and was named to the 2017 All-Big Ten Preseason Team. She also garnered Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on two occasions for Head Coach Paula Wilkins. Bailey Corbin was also a defensive standout this fall during her collegiate campaign for Nova Southeastern University, as she was named Third Team All-American by United Soccer Coaches. Corbin helped propel the Sharks to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, a Sunshine State Conference regular season title, and was named the SSC Defensive Player of the Year. Bailey has appeared in 19 of the 20 UWS games that the Lancaster Inferno have played the past two seasons.
In just two seasons at Liberty University, forward/midfielder Isabella Habuda proved to be one of the program's prolific scorers, ranking 11th in school history with 41 career points (16 G, 9 A). It was the second straight season that Habuda was named to the All-Big South Conference First Team. Isabella tied for second in scoring for Detroit and was named to the UWS Team of the Week (Week 1) for her 2 goals in a win over FC Indiana. Forward Paige Hayward was named to the All-SWAC Second Team for the second consecutive season after leading Texas Southern University in scoring (8 G, 18 PTS). The Australia-native and Houston Aces veteran tied TSU's all-time goals record and became the school's all-time leader in points on Senior Day this fall.
Defender/midfielder Gabrielle Matulich starred for the Santa Clarita Blue Heat during their 2016 UWS championship season. Matulich earned Pac-12 All-Academic honors for the third-straight year at UCLA and was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week (Oct. 3) after recording a goal and assist against Oregon State. In her first season for New Jersey Copa F.C., midfielder Jessica Reinhardt appeared in seven games for the 2017 East Conference regular season champions. Reinhardt would go on to be named Second Team All-Region by United Soccer Coaches for Fairleigh Dickinson University this fall and was selected to the All-Northeast Conference First Team for the third straight season. She became FDU's all-time leader in assists (23).
Defender Allyson Swaby was team co-captain for Boston College and started in all 20 games for the Eagles (started in 70 of 73 career games over her four-year career at BC). Swaby has been a member of the Jamaican Women's National Team and was named to the 2016 All-UWS & All-East Conference Teams for the New England Mutiny. Midfielder Madison Vasquez earned All-MAAC honors for the third year in a row for Siena College, making the Second Team as she started all 18 matches and tallied 10 points with three game-winning goals. Vasquez was a two-time Preseason All-MAAC selection as well. Madison appeared in eight games (2 G, 2 A) this past summer for the 2017 UWS National Semifinalist Long Island Rough Riders.
Defender Elizabeth Wenger rounds out the draft-eligible list after earning a 2017 United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team selection for Georgetown University. Wenger was a First Team All-Midwest Region honoree after being named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. She was a three-time All-BIG EAST honoree, earning a spot on the first team as a senior (78 starts over her four-year career). Wenger appeared in eight games for Lancaster during the 2017 UWS season, notching an assist.
About United Women’s Soccer (UWS): UWS is a national women’s soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). UWS is a professionally operated league created for teams that meet high minimum standards. The season runs from May until the end of July, culminating in a National Championship match. The UWS player pool is comprised of college players, aspiring & former professionals and international stars. You can follow UWS on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Media can contact UWS Director of Communications Jorma Kansanen by e-mail at UWSPress@gmail.com. You can visit the league’s official website at UWSSoccer.com. Interested team applicants can contact League Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.