Former Tigers Drafted to WPS
1/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Jan. 20, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo - Two University of Missouri women's soccer players were selected in the inaugural Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) draft, held in St. Louis on Friday.
The Boston Breakers chose former star striker Jennifer Nobis (2002-05) in the fifth round, while senior defender Kat Tarr was taken with the Chicago Red Stars' eighth round pick.
"We are very excited for Jennie and Kat as they move forward in their professional careers," Missouri head coach Bryan Blitz said. "Mizzou soccer continues to set an ever-growing standard of attracting and producing some of the top talent in the nation and these two players moving on to the next level is very much an indicator of that."
Nobis, the 29th overall pick, returns to the U.S. after playing professionally for two seasons in Sweden. The Quincy, Ill., native will join U.S. National Team players Angela Hucles, Kristine Lilly, Amy Rodriguez and Heather Mitts, as well as English international Kelly Smith, as teammates when Boston's preseason camp starts March 1.
"I'm really excited to play with some of the top players in the nation" said Nobis, who was featured in the Boston Globe on Saturday (click here to read). "I'm really lucky to have the opportunity to be coached by Tony DiCicco, one of the best soccer minds in the United States."
Tarr, the 55th overall pick, anchored a Tiger defense this year that set school records in fewest goals allowed (19) and most shutouts in a season (12) and was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team after helping Missouri capture its first conference soccer championship. The Vancouver, Wash., native impressed Chicago head coach Emma Hayes after being invited to the West Coast combine last month.
"We think Kat has tremendous upside," Hayes said. "She loves going forward from the fullback position and we love her versatility as she can also play centerback. She is a tenacious defender, hard as nails. We're very excited to have her rights."
WPS team rosters may carry a maximum of 18 senior players and four additional developmental players, and must be set by March 25. The league, the highest level of women's professional soccer in North America, will begin play March 29.
