Top 5 Prospects for the 2010 WPS Draft

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Vandervort on November 10, 2009 at 12:28pm

1. Kelley O'Hara, forward, Stanford (I've seen her in two games and a training session at Stanford already this year and she's absolutely tremendous. Sneaky, reads the game better than anybody else out there, gets her body into dangerous positions between the lines, and can finish like a rock star. #1 all the way, no doubt.)
2. Tobin Heath, forward, UNC (I've been to every Final Four since she's been in college - she's a difference-maker, and she'll bring fans just to watch her silky moves.)
3. Lauren Cheney, midfield, UCLA (Unfortunately I just saw her play for the first time against Stanford on a Sunday - following a Cal game the Friday before - and while there were flashes of genius, it just wasn't her best appearance. But consistency and past performance give her the #3 nod on my list).
4. Ali Riley, defender, Stanford (She's the first left back to steal my heart. Even with Kelley O'Hara on the pitch I couldn't take my eyes off this pacey, attack-minded accurate defender. Not to mention the chemistry she and Kelley have developed pulses through the team).
5. I'm reserving the #5 slot for after I see a few more games - more to follow here...

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Permalink Reply by Kristen on November 10, 2009 at 3:23pm

hmm i think...

1. Tobin Heath
2. Casey Nogueira
3. Lauren Cheney
4. Kelley O'Hara
5. Whitney Engen

but i think Ashlyn Harris and Ali Riley should be up there too

lots of Tarheels (:

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Permalink Reply by Scott on November 10, 2009 at 3:25pm

WPS Mock Draft:
1. ATL Tobin Heath (is she really a lock for #1 like A-Rod was?)
2. BOS Kelley O'Hara (I can see Tony loving how she plays, but dont be surprised if ATL picks up their ATL girl)
3. BAY Lauren Cheney (Up top with Sinclair, with old teammate DiMartino behind?)
4. CHI Whitney Engen (They need to build their defense)
5. LA Ali Riley (One Cardinal out-Falks lack of speed...One Cardinal In-Riley's speed & versatility)
6. NJ Nikki Marshall (Their midfield is the entire USWNT already so they need to build on their defense with Rampone prob to miss all of 2010)
7. WSH Casey Nogueira (They need a midfielder to support De Vanna & Wambach)
8. LA Michelle Enyeart (Knows how to play a great supporting role to star striker..Foxhoven now Marta)
9. LA (Any defender with some speed, could see a trade here)
10. ATL Kara Lang (ATL needs to build some offense badly)
11. BOS Nikki Washington (Coached her on U20s and knows what she can do)
* Don't be surprised FCGP's Montoya snatches a Stanford Cardinal in the first round...he knows those players too well to not draft them.

I've seen the following players in person & TV several times:

Kelley O'Hara, F, Stanford: Personally, besides Riley I think she's the only player I've seen on TV and in person that truly gives 100% all the time. She goes after every ball and very crafty. At first I wasn't too fond of her because of her lack of proper shinguard style (looked like it was loose all the time and just looked messy), but her hustle impressed me so much. I remember watching her U16 PTC Lazers team play back in the day, but she wasn't a force back then so much. I saw her play most of her junior year at Stanford and she can shoot, head the ball, pass and create. She also gets back on defense which I always admire in a good forward. Another great attribute to her game: she definitely knows how to hold the ball up top so her other teammates can catch up and play off her. I totally forgot this..don't be surprised Kelley is the #1 pick because she would be a marquee player since she's FROM GEORGIA!!!!!! Perfect Atlanta picks a girl from Atlanta!!! No brainer! You know she'd love to come home as well!

Tobin Heath, M, North Carolina: I think she probably will be #1 pick, but I don't think she deserves it this year. She's very slick on the ball as Amanda stated, but I feel that she gets lost/disappears in games sometimes. She is going to be another A-Rod...#1 Draft that doesn't deliver.

Lauren Cheney, M/F, UCLA: Has switched between F & M this year with the Bruins due to Kara Lang's ACL injury. She has had to almost carry UCLA on her back this season with Leroux being her go to girl. In the WPS, I think she would be a good WPS player since she's your typical USWNT player: strong & athletic.

Whitney Engen, D, North Carolina: A good competitor and consistent. Playing the center back in a 3-back formation can only show WPS Coaches that she is a leader from the back and knows how to organize her defense.

Ali Riley, D, Stanford: I know people say she's the best left back in the country and I would agree, but lets not get too ahead of ourselves. She's definitely not a natural left sided player. She doesn't have that good of a left and normally cuts to her right foot a lot to get off her crosses. Her speed is probably the biggest thing the NZ NT saw in her when they called her up for the WC. She could easily be in the top 3-5 outside backs in the WPS next year because of her two-way play and her speed. You gotta love a converted forward to defender (i.e. Chastain)..Also Thanks Ratcliffe for developing a perfect WPS prospect. She could play anywhere on the outside.

Casey Nogueira, F/M, North Carolina: This girl has to have the best shot in the country. All her great goals I've ever seen were hard and low to the corners, so that shows she knows how to AIM! That's really all I have to say since I don't see a WOW factor in her game besides her shot.

Injured Players: So I doubt WPS coaches would draft one of these players, just depends on how bad their injuries are. Plus depends if the girl wants to finish her degree first (i.e. S.L. of Athletica). But having any three of these players could benefit a WPS squad. I included them in the mock draft, because I'd still take them even if they are recovering.
1. Michelle Enyeart, M/F, Portland - Great speed, strong on the ball, strong dribbler, the games i've seen on TV lately every kick off starts off with her dribbling at the opponent and trying to get around at least 2-3 players first! lol.
2. Kara Lang, F, UCLA-I was a huge fan after her cracking goal against Sweden in the 03 WC, but once I saw her in college I was bored stiff with her. Again she's just a big strong physical player. The only thing I will say she is probably one if not the best players in the nation with her back to goal, because she really knows how to shield the ball and turn on a defender and hit a shot.
3. Nikki Washington, M, North Carolina-a quick crafty outside mid, her play in the U20 WC showed she is a force to recognize!
*Someone could correct me, but i think Lang & Nikki's injuries were early in the season so not sure if they will try to get a medical redshirt.

GOALKEEPERS:
These goal keepers in all honestly NEVER get tested often enough.. I think Naeher was great in the U20WC so I think she deserves to be #1 GK taken. Harris & Davis are good keepers but you don't really see them make HUGE saves in the games I've seen. The defenses in front of them are just so good, you can have a "ok" keeper (i.e. Rodenbough last year with UNC) and still win.

Alyssa Naeher, GK, Penn State
Ashlyn Harris, GK, North Carolina
Kelsey Davis, GK, Portland
Erin Guthrie, GK, Rutgers

FYI: A GK should not go in the first round of the draft because WPS Coaches can easily sign a decent free agent.

***********I just realized that North Carolina might have their WORST team ever next season. I know they will bring in great freshman next year, but geez look at all the starting seniors they are going to lose!

Other players of note:
Brittany Taylor, M/D, Connecticut
Blakely Mattern, D, South Carolina
Jordan Angeli, D, Santa Clara (numerous ACL injuries, plays anywhere in the middle)
Kiersten Dallstream, F, Washington State (I've heard that WSU will make a great run into the NCAAs with Dallstream leading the way)
Becky Edwards, M/D, Florida State
Kaley Fountain, F/D, Wake Forest
Gina DiMartino, F, Boston College
Kelly Isleib, F, Utah
Andrea Willis, D, BYU
Nikki Marshall, F/D, Colorado (a player that can play F or D easily raises her WPS stock)
Malorie Rutledge, M/F, LSU
Katie Schoepfer, F, Penn State
Jessica Rostedt, F, Virginia
Hailey Beam, M, UNC Charlotte
Liz Harkin, D, Arizona State

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Vandervort on November 10, 2009 at 4:42pm

Great post, Scott!

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Permalink Reply by Kat on November 11, 2009 at 12:48am

O'Hara
Heath
Cheney
Engen
Riley

But with the NCAA tournament coming up I might change my mind, hee.

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Avila on November 11, 2009 at 7:59am

1. Tobin Heath
2. Becky Edwards (I am a big fan of FSU women's soccer)
3. Lauren Cheney
4. Kelley O'Hara
5. Ashlyn Harris

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Permalink Reply by Scott on November 11, 2009 at 12:49pm

I totally sadly neglected one of my favorite players: M from Santa Clara, Kiki Bosio and also USC GK Kristen Olsen.

Top 11 for 2011 WPS Draft Prospects for fun. (This does not look like a deep class at all, and horribly falls off after 15 players)
1. Alex Morgan, F, California
2. Sophie Schmidt, F, Portland
3. Amanda DaCosta, M, Florida State
4. Ali Hawkins, M, North Carolina
5. Jessica McDonald, F, North Carolina
6. Lauren Fowlkes, F/D, Notre Dame
7. Christen Press, F, Stanford
8. Keelin Winters, M, Portland
9. Meghan Klingenberg, M, North Carolina
10. Jessica Tsao, D, Portland
10. Elli Reed, D, Portland

Top GK (couldn't think of any others): Kristin Arnold, GK, Texas A&M

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Permalink Reply by Emma Hayes on November 11, 2009 at 12:57pm

I thought it was about time that I checked in. I am happy to see fans getting excited about the college draft and I'm interested to see how each of you rank the players. I think you are all close to the mark with your appraisals. The thing with the draft is that you can't really predict too much because you don't necessarily know what the team in front of you is going to do. All the same, all coaches can do is prepare to find a deep enough pool of talent that would fit in and go from there.

Here at Chicago, we are preparing for a four round draft and hope to pick up two key players in the first two rounds with an eye on developmental players for the next two. I can say this much, I am very excited at the talent level of this senior class and I think the first round possesses some wonderful talent. This is an incredibly skillful group and has future stars of the USWNT and WPS rosters.

Just wanted to say thank you for the ratings. I am always curious to see what the fans think......Keep them coming.

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Vandervort on November 11, 2009 at 6:50pm

Great to have a coach weigh in here, Thanks Emma!!!

Emma Hayes said:

I thought it was about time that I checked in. I am happy to see fans getting excited about the college draft and I'm interested to see how each of you rank the players. I think you are all close to the mark with your appraisals. The thing with the draft is that you can't really predict too much because you don't necessarily know what the team in front of you is going to do. All the same, all coaches can do is prepare to find a deep enough pool of talent that would fit in and go from there.

Here at Chicago, we are preparing for a four round draft and hope to pick up two key players in the first two rounds with an eye on developmental players for the next two. I can say this much, I am very excited at the talent level of this senior class and I think the first round possesses some wonderful talent. This is an incredibly skillful group and has future stars of the USWNT and WPS rosters.

Just wanted to say thank you for the ratings. I am always curious to see what the fans think......Keep them coming.

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Permalink Reply by K C on November 11, 2009 at 8:49pm

Does anybody know how bad Enyeart's injury was from the San Diego game? It looked like a leg injury, because they were carrying her off. That could potentially drop her a few spots if there is a long recovery period. I hope for her sake it was not serious, but it didn't look good at the time.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa on November 14, 2009 at 4:51pm

1.Tobin Heath
2. Lauren Cheney
3. Casey Nogueira
4. Kelly O"Hara
5. Whitney Engen

Other Top Players- Courtney Rosen, Kelsey Davis, Ashlyn Harris and Michele Weissenhofer

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Permalink Reply by Haley on November 14, 2009 at 6:54pm

1. Kelley O'Hara
2. Tobin Heath
3. Lauren Cheney
4. Ali Riley
5. Casey Nogueira

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