Nebraska seniors Jenny Benson and Karina LeBlanc, along with former Huskers Sharolta Nonen and Amy Walsh, were selected in the third round of the Women's United Soccer Association draft on Sunday, Dec. 10. Former Huskers Lindsay Eddleman, Becky Hornbacher and Kim Engesser were taken in the final three rounds on Monday, Dec. 11. An eight-team professional league, the WUSA will begin its inaugural season in April.
Benson, a first-team All-American, was taken by the Philadelphia Charge as the 18th pick overall. A four-time first-team All-Big 12 selection, Benson finished her career with 99 points on 26 goals and a school-record 47 assists. After moving to defender this year from the midfield, Benson helped the Huskers notch 16 shutouts in 24 games. Nebraska surrendered just 10 goals, producing a school-record low 0.42 goals-against average.
"I just think it's a really good opportunity for us to start this league off and get it going," Benson said. "Hopefully, younger kids will have something to strive for that we didn't have when we were younger. It's an awesome honor, and I'm really excited to get this started."
LeBlanc, who was selected as the 21st pick overall by the Boston Breakers, was the second goalkeeper taken in the draft. A NSCAA First-Team Central Region selection, LeBlanc finished the 2000 season ranked fourth in the nation and first in the Big 12 Conference with a goals-against average of 0.40. A second-team all-conference selection, LeBlanc's career goals-against average of 0.54 ranks seventh in NCAA Division-I history, while her scoreless streak (710:22), which was snapped on Oct. 8 against Texas A&M, was the 11th longest in NCAA Division-I history.
"I'm overwhelmed," LeBlanc said. "This is definitely an opportunity that I've been looking forward to for a long time. It's such an honor. I'm going to be playing against the best players in the world. That should help me become the goalkeeper that I want to be."
Nonen, a defender for the Huskers from 1996-1999, was taken by the Atlanta Beat as the 17th pick overall. She became the NU soccer program's first three-time All-American after becoming the first defender to capture Big 12 Player-of-the-Year honors in 1999. Nonen helped Nebraska post a 0.54 goals-against average in 1999 and ended her Husker career as the school record holder with 93 games played.
Walsh, a midfielder, was selected by the Bay Area CyberRays as the 24th pick overall. One of the top ball-winning midfielders in the nation as a senior in 1999, Walsh earned first-team All-Big 12 Conference honors for the second straight season en route to NSCAA First-Team All-Central Region accolades. She finished her NU career (1997-99) with 36 points on 14 goals and eight assists.
"It's great for Nebraska soccer that so many of us have this opportunity," LeBlanc said. "I think it just shows how great the program is. We didn't get here on our own. There are great coaches - Marty Everding, Megan Bechtold and John Walker - and great athletes that have helped to give us this opportunity."
LeBlanc, Walsh and Nonen are also members of the Canadian National Team.
Eddleman, Nebraska's all-time leading scorer, was selected by the Boston Breakers in the 13th round as the 102nd overall pick. A four-time All-Big 12 Conference selection (1996-99), Eddleman finished her Husker career with 127 points on 50 goals and 27 assists. She earned All-America honors as a freshman in 1996, scoring 42 points on 17 goals and eight assists.
Hornbacher, who earned All-America honors as a goalkeeper in 1997, was taken by the New York Power in the 13th round as the 110th overall pick. She finished her Husker career with a goals-against average of 0.64 and notched 41 wins in two seasons at Nebraska (1996-97).
Engesser, who was an All-American and the Big 12 Player of the Year in 1998, was selected by the Atlanta Beat in the 14th round as the 113th overall pick. She set the NU single-season point record in 1998, scoring 61 points on 27 goals and seven assists. In 1997, her first season as a Husker, Engesser notched 55 points, which ranks third in school history.
Other teams in the league include: the San Diego Spirit, the Carolina Tempest, and the Washington Freedom.
Huskers selected in the WUSA draft:
|
Round |
Pick No. |
Name |
Team |
Pos. |
|
3 |
17 |
Sharolta Nonen |
Atlanta Beat |
D |
|
3 |
18 |
Jenny Benson |
Philadelphia Charge |
MF/D |
|
3 |
21 |
Karina LeBlanc |
Boston Breakers |
GK |
|
3 |
24 |
Amy Walsh |
Bay Area CyberRays |
MF |
|
13 |
102 |
Lindsay Eddleman |
Boston Breakers |
F |
|
13 |
110 |
Becky Hornbacher |
New York Power |
GK |
|
14 |
113 |
Kim Engesser |
Atlanta Beat |
F |