Dec. 4, 2000
BOCA RATON, Fla. -
Five former University of Maryland soccer stars and current assistant coach Katherine Vettori are among more than 170 women's soccer players competing in the WUSA's (Women's United Soccer Association) inaugural combine being held at Florida Atlantic University of Boca Raton, Fla. The week-long camp opened on Dec. 4. After the five days of competition, the general managers and coaches will commence the first WUSA Combine Draft on December 10 and will conclude the draft the next day. There will be between 12 and 15 rounds.
Former Terp standouts midfielder Michelle Demko (1993-95), defender Emily Janss (1996-99), midfielder Robin McCullough (1995-98), forward Keri Sarver (1995-98) and defender Erin Taylor (1993-96) along with forward/midfielder Vettori, a college standout at Duke are competing to play in the new pro women's soccer league.
Demko was a three-year performer for the Terps, she tallied 23 points in her career on eight goals and seven assists. She was a first team All-Mid-Atlantic region selection and first team All-ACC pick as a senior in 1995. Demko has played for the Maryland Pride and Tampa Bay Extreme of the W-League and with Bayern Munich in Germany.
Janss was a four-year starter for the Terps, leading the team to four consecutive NCAA appearances. She ranks among the top 10 all-time at Maryland in games played (2nd with 95), games started (tied for 1st with 95), goals (9th with 17) and points (9th with 42). She was a first team All-ACC selection in 1999 and second team pick in 1997 and 1998. She was also an All-Mid-Atlantic selection twice (second team in 1997 and third team in 1999). Janss played for the W-League's Maryland Pride in 2000.
McCullough, Maryland's all-time leader in games played with 97, was a four-year starter for the Terps. She finished with 66 points to rank third all-time at Maryland. She is also ranked in the top 10 in games started (tied for 1st with 95), goals (6th with 21), assists (3rd with 24) and shots (3rd with 172). She was an All-ACC second team selection in 1996 and 1997 and also an All-Mid-Atlantic region second team pick in those same seasons. McCullough has played for the Maryland Pride for the last two seasons.
Sarver is Maryland's most prolific scorer in history. She stands first on every offensive category with 61 goals, 33 assists, 155 points, 279 shots and game-winning goals with 17. She was a Soccer Buzz first team All-American in 1998 and an All-ACC selection in 1997 (second team) and 1998 (first team). Sarver also earned first team All-Mid-Atlantic in 1997 and 1998. Sarver tied for the Maryland Pride team scoring lead in 2000.
Taylor is also one of Maryland's all-time greats. She was named the ACC Player of the Year in 1996, also earning first team NSCAA All-American honors that season. She was a first team All-ACC selection in 1995 and 1996. Taylor totaled 29 points in her career scoring 12 goals and adding five assists. She is currently in her third year as an assistant coach at Ohio State.
Vettori, who played at Duke as Katherine Remy from 1992-95, was a standout for the Blue Devils. She still ranks in the top five all-time in Duke history in goals (4th with 24), assists (4th with 18) and points (5th with 66). She was a first-team All-ACC selection in 1993 and a second-team pick in 1994. She has served as an assistant coach with the Terps for the last three seasons after working in the same capacity at the University of Pennsylvania.
The WUSA will launch next April in eight team markets: Atlanta Beat, Bay Area CyberRays, Carolina Tempest, Boston Breakers, New York Power, Philadelphia Charge, San Diego Spirit and Washington D.C. Freedom.
