“Couldn’t have gone much better”, was how Western New York GM and head coach Aaron Lines described the team’s 2015 NWSL draft. With needs everywhere and with six picks to help fill those needs the Flash continued what has been an interesting and exciting off-season. Returning only six players from last years’ squad, it has been a complete re-loading of the Flash roster. With the return of two players in Becky Edwards and Whitney Egen from their championship squad, both signed this past offseason, and some interesting free agent signings, the draft would further supply fresh talent that will hopefully return New York to the top of the league.
So, how did the Flash do in helping fill out their roster? With four picks in the first round, they were primed to add four immediate impact players. As I wrote on Friday, I had hoped the team would package a pick or two and send them to Houston for the top overall pick and draft Morgan Brian, who would have given them a name to market and an exciting player to build around in the future.
Nobody could blame the flash for not doing so, electing instead to add four pieces to build around. After the NJ Sky Blue picked Sarah Killion of UCLA, it was time for the Flash to begin. Neither of their first two selections were a surprise, with Sam Mewis and Abby Dahlkemper, both of UCLA being selected.
"“Western New York is a great team and a great organization,” Mewis said. “I’m just really looking forward to getting the season started..”"
In her senior season, Mewis was named EspnW’s National Player of the Year, Pac-12 Player of the Year, First Team NSCAA All-American and First Team All-Pacific Region. Mewis was named to All-Pac-12 teams each year of her college career.
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She wrapped up her career with statistics ranking her in the Top 10 of UCLA’s all-time records, including 9th in goals (31), 2nd in assists (32) and 6th in points (94).
In 2014, Mewis won the Honda Award, presented by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) to the top female soccer player and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”. Ironically Dahlkemper won the award the year before.
Dahlkemper was the top defender available in the draft , is a great one on one defender and fills in an immediate need in a paper-thin Flash defense. Dahlkemper earned NSCAA All-American honors all four years at UCLA, joining U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder Lauren Holiday as the only Bruin to carry out that feat.
She earned many other accolades throughout her four years, including All-Pac-12 First Team and NSCAA All-Pacific Region honors each year. In her senior year, Dahlkemper was honored as the Pac-12 Defender of the Year and, the year earlier, was named the NSCAA Scholar All-America Player of the Year. In addition to being a top defender, she can give a little offense as well, totally five goals and ten assists during his Bruin career.
After having to wait one pick, the Flash had the sixth and seventh picks. Many mock drafts, including mine had them taking Virginia’s Danielle Colaprico with one of the two picks. I had them taking Florida State’s Kristin Grubka with the other, figuring that in addition to Dahlkemper it would give them two outstanding defenders.Instead, they made one of the few surprises of the draft, grabbing forward Lynn Williams of Pepperdine.
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Williams had not been in many first round mock drafts, but she adds some much-needed offense. Williams became one of the best players to go through the program. Her 24 career goals, 15 game-winning goals and 398 shots rank first in the Waves’ record books while her goal total (39) and points (102) rank second all-time and in her senior year she led the team with fourteen goals and ten assists. She will perhaps help fill the loss of Abby Wambach during the World Cup and brings an air of toughness in as well:she played most of her senior year with a broken jaw.
With their final first round pick the team again made a surprise pick with Texas Tech defender Jaelene Hinkle. Hinkle not only helped anchor a defense that posted nine shutouts, but also added four assists on the offensive end in her senior season.
In 2014, Hinkle became the first Texas Tech player to be named Big-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year, also earning Academic All-American honors. Scouts called her a’ left-footed outside back with good distribution and 1 v 1 defending capability.’ It was perhaps her good speed and her left footed pace which caused her to be selected so high, but she will bring pressure and pace and tough defense to the Flash.
"Hinkle echoed this by saying “I was honestly surprised and so excited to have the opportunity to be drafted into such a good organization today,I’m hoping I’ll really be able to add an attacking presence from the left back and contribute to the success of the back line.”"
With their lone second round pick, the Flash selected Tatiana Coleman of Central Florida, a player who may quickly endear herself to Flash fans, she will run through anything to score a goal and like Williams adds toughness. Over her time at UCF, Coleman led the Knights to a 2013 AAC Championship and a school-record 18 wins in 2014. She begna her collegiate career at Auburn before transferring to UCF. In her two seasons in Florida, the forward totaled 24 goals and 19 assists while being named NSCAA Second Team All-American and AAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2014. She also earned two NSCAA All-Region honors.
"“You think about all the hard work and the blood, sweat and tears you put into playing this beautiful sport. It’s just thrilling and it’s nice to see that hard work pay off, I’m excited to head to New York for new experiences, new people and new coaches,” Coleman said upon her selection."
With their final selection, the Flash chose one of my personal favorites in goal keeper Sabrina D’Angelo of South Carolina. She will compete with off season signee Chantel Jones to be the team’s new net minder.D’Angelo is a member of the Canadian National Team pool and in 2012 she was named the Canadian U-20 player of the year.
D’Angelo leaves the Gamecocks as their first two-time NSCAA First Team All-American and led the SEC with only 13 goals conceded in 2014. In the first round of the season’s NCAA tournament, D’Angelo made a key penalty kick stop to help South Carolina move on to the next round but an injury led to her missing the team’s next, and final, three games.
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D’Angelo earned All-SEC honors every year at South Carolina and, in her rookie season, was honored as the SEC Freshman of the Year and Co-Defensive Player of the Year. She ranks second in South Carolina history in goals-against average (0.76), shutouts (29) and saves (241).
She’s logged the most minutes of any Gamecock goalkeeper in women’s program history. Of her selection, D’Angelo said : It’s a huge honor to be drafted. I didn’t think I was going to have the opportunity to get to play in the league, “ were just jumping up and down. It’s just really a huge honor and I’m excited for this opportunity.” With her resume, it’s no surprise that she was drafted and as I said will be given every opportunity to earn the number one spot in net.
With six solid selections, the team is closer to filling it’s roster. The open tryouts and other camps will also provide the opportunity to add talent. However, with the team losing Wambach and Egen during the World Cup, a lot will be placed on the shoulders of Mewis, Dahlkemper, Williams and Hinkle. I think Coleman will be a pleasant surprise with her never say die attitude and with Williams (and later Wambach) will give the team some grit.
The Flash will need to get off to a fast start to alleviate the loss of Wambach and Egen during the season. Of the team’s draft technical director Charlie Naimo had this to say : “I couldn’t be more pleased with the players and diversity that we are bringing in.They are all great, young professionals. Every player we picked has a legitimate shot to win a starting role on this team and that’s way more than you can hope for in a draft.” Many were skeptical of the house cleaning and re-building job Lines and Naimo underwent. I for one think they may be right back in the thick of things sooner than later.
what do you think Flash fans? Are you excited for this draft class and for the season?
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comments courtesy of the Western New York Flash