Majestics and Maryland player Mary Casey drafted by LA Sol of WPS

In the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) Draft held Friday at the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, Northern Virginia Majestic Mary Casey was picked in the fourth round by the LA Sol. A four-year standout at the University of Maryland, Casey shared time at both goalkeeper and defense over the last two years with the Northern Virginia Majestics.

A native of Centreville, Virginia, Casey anchored the Northern Virginia defense from both the goal and defensive positions since 2008. Casey was named to the USL Team of the Week in July of 2008, earning accolades for scoring a last second goal over the New York Magic.

Casey closed out her stellar career as at Maryland by helping lead the Terrapins to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament and a 14-6-2 overall record. As a senior in 2009, Casey anchored a Terrapin defense that posted nine shutouts and held opponents to less than one goal per game. A 2008 first team All-ACC selection, Casey finished her career with a Maryland record 1.03 career goals against average. She also ranks fourth all-time with 13 career shutouts and is seventh on the school\'s all-time list with 136 saves.

The Sol won the inaugural WPS regular season championship, but lost to Sky Blue FC in the 2009 WPS Championship game.

Friday’s WPS draft saw 10 of the 11 First Round selections go to players with USL W-League experience. In all, 36 former W-League players were chosen in the seven-round, 65-player draft.

Leading the list of W-League selections on the day was a large pack of alumnae from the Pali Blues, who saw their players go in the first five selections of the draft. Tobin Heath was taken first overall by the expansion Atlanta Beat, followed by Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Kelly O’Hara (FC Gold Pride), Whitney Engen (Chicago Red Stars) and Nikki Washington (Los Angeles Sol). Ali Riley became the sixth taken in the First Round (FC Gold Pride, 10th overall) and Ashlyn Harris made the final tally seven in the Second Round (St Louis Athletica, 19th).