FSU’s Short Selected by Breakers
- Updated: January 18, 2013
Florida State midfielder/defender Casey Short was taken fifth overall by the Boston Breakers in Friday’s National Women’s Soccer League College Draft in Indiana.
After taking short in the first round, the Breakers selected Stanford midfielder Mariah Nogueira (second round, 13th overall), Florida midfielder Jo Dragotta (third round, 21st overall) and Penn State midfielder Maddy Evans (fourth round, 29th overall).
“I’m really excited about how things went with Boston, and I think we got some players that fill a role for us and are going to be able to make a difference in our team,” Breakers Head Coach Lisa Cole said in a statement. “I’m really excited about not only the qualities they have on the field, but also off the field.”
Short featured on a back four that saw the Seminoles earn a record for fewest goals in the Atlantic Coast Conference (4), all-time low goals against average (0.62), and a school-record 17 shutouts in 2012. She also teamed up with recent Breakers addition Sydney LeRoux at the 2010 U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany.
“This is just an incredible opportunity and a dream come true,” Short said. “I’m looking forward to playing for Lisa Cole and playing with some of the best players in the world. I’m excited.”
“With Casey Short, we have a player that’s versatile. She’s been really successful at Florida State and well-coached by Mark Krikorian,” Cole said. “She can play out wide on the left, she can play centrally, and she can play as a holding mid, so that fills a role for us there.”
Following Short, the Breakers added Nogueira to reinforce its midfield. Despite her defensive midfield duties at Stanford, Nogueira tallied 21 goals and 15 assists in 99 games and earned playing time with the U.S. U-23 national team.
“She’s a ball-winner, she’s going to be competitive, she’s going to be able to man that midfield for us,” Cole said. “I think we have a future international star and a good pro in that position.”
Boston kept the midfield on the agenda with its final two pics. While at Florida, Dragotta scored seven goals and notched 11 assists in 82 games for the Gators. Last season, she was a NSCAA All-South Region first team selection and was also named to the All-Southeastern Conference first team and the SEC All-Tournament team.
“Jo Dragotta is a hard worker and can playmaker a little bit. We added some depth in that position,” Cole said.
With their final pick, the club tabbed a familiar face in Evans, who played with the Breakers reserve team in WPSL. She was a standout at Penn State, starting every game of 2012 and adding 11 goals and eight assists throughout her four years.
“Maddy’s been a part of our program, our reserve team, our Under-23 team in the past and has been in training with the Breakers, so she’ll probably be our first developmental player to make the pros,” Cole said. “She adds versatility. She can play on the flank, she can play in the attack spot, and as a holding midfielder. She’s worked hard and improved over the years.”
Following Friday’s draft, Boston’s roster now stands at 11 players. The inaugural NWSL season will kick off in the spring.
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