Stephanie Verdoia (Salt Lake City, Utah) will have the opportunity to realize her dream of playing professional soccer, as she was chosen in the fourth round of the 2015 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) College Draft by the Boston Breakers Friday morning at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
The draft is being held in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention, and Verdoia was present to hear her name called, as she traveled to the convention to receive her Third Team All-America and First Team Scholar All-America honors. This continues a string of honors Verdoia has received since completing her collegiate career, as she was named Capital One Academic All-American of the Year for Division I women’s soccer as well as the recipient of the women’s soccer Senior CLASS Award.
"Our entire staff is so extremely proud and happy for Stephanie," said Seattle U head coach Julie Woodward. "We are extremely thankful for her believing in our program and vision of success and this tremendous opportunity presented itself because of the type of person she is. It's based on her hard work, commitment to improving, discipline, and overall character. She has been a wonderful representative of Seattle University and we look forward to watching her success in the future. She is an incredible person and our staff feels blessed to have had the opportunity to work with her these past four years."
The two-time Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year ended her Seattle U career as the program leader in career goals (51) and points (132) and the single season leader in goals for 2014 with 22. She finished the 2014 season second in Division I in total goals (22) and total points (57) as she led the Redhawks to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and a 15-4-3 overall record.
Orlando Cervantes, Lamar University head women’s soccer coach, described Verdoia on the NWSL Twitter account (@NWSL) as “athletic, smart; can play forward or attack mid; creative; quick; can create her own shot off dribble.”
During a live chat on the NWSL website, University of Washington head women’s soccer coach Lesle Gallimore wrote, “Boston Breakers take sleeping giant out of Seattle University Stephanie Verdoia. A 10 or a 9, it doesn’t matter, she’s good and people are really going to enjoy watching her play!”
Verdoia is believed to be the first Seattle U female student-athlete ever drafted by a United States professional sports league, and the first student-athlete already attending Seattle University to be drafted since 1980, when Jawann Oldham and Carl Ervin were taken in the NBA Draft and Barry Sayler was chosen in the MLB Entry Draft.
The Boston Breakers finished eighth in the NWSL in the 2014 season with 20 points (6-16-2). The Breakers open the 2015 season in the Pacific Northwest against the Portland Thorns Saturday, April 11, at Providence Park. The rest of the 2015 NWSL schedule will be announced at a later date.