Former Terps Helping Launch WPS
12/1/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Dec. 1, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - In April 2009 Women's Professional Soccer is set to debut, and a trio of former Terps are poised to be a part of it.
In October, the teams began to fill out their rosters with the initial WPS General Draft, and the Washington Freedom selected former Terp All-American Emily Janss with the 28th pick in the draft. Janss has been with the Freedom since 2004, and was part of the Freedom's W-League championship in 2007. She was selected to the W-League Championship All Tournament Team and previously played for the New York Power of the WUSA from 2001-2003.
"We're happy to see Emily rewarded for her patience and hard work," says Maryland head coach Brian Pensky. "After the WUSA folded, Emily came back to Maryland as an assistant coach in 2004. She chose to leave Maryland in the summer of 2005 in order to focus on her playing career - with the hopes that professional soccer for women would come back in this country. And certainly that decision has paid off for her. She is a terrific player, and I'm sure will continue to do well with the Freedom."
Two other former Terps, 2007 alum Ashly Kennedy and 2008 grad Nataly Arias are hoping to find a home in the WPS as well. The duo is set to take part in the West Coast WPS Combine, which is being held in Chula Vista, Calif., from Dec. 11-14.
In the summer of 2008, Kennedy earned W-League All-Conference Honors while playing for the Ottawa Fury of the Central Conference. Kennedy led Ottawa to the quarterfinals, before they suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to FC Indiana.
Arias was a member of the ACC All-Freshmen Team in 2004, led the Terps in scoring in 2007, and was a team captain and the squad's third-leading scorer in this past season.
"This is outstanding for them - Ashly and Nataly get to pursue their childhood dreams," adds Pensky. "The league coming back is so tremendous for young women all throughout the country. And Ashly and Nataly are two cases of players who have dreamt about this opportunity since they were little girls. As outstanding players, we know they'll both represent themselves and our university well in Chula Vista."
During the combine, players will undergo general training and physical testing and will be assigned to specific teams with the opportunity to play in three games over the course of three days. Players' rights will be drafted by teams at the 2009 WPS Draft on January 16 in St. Louis at the NSCAA Convention. Beginning in February, teams will also hold local try-outs in their respective markets.
