Washington Freedom draft Allie Long, Briana Scurry, seven others Friday

While things seemed to go somewhat as expected early on in the 2009 WPS Draft, things surely didn’t stay that way as the Washington Freedom added Joanna Lohman via trade and drafted U.S. National Team veteran goalkeeper Briana Scurry in addition to taking North Carolina senior Allie Long with its first round pick (seventh overall).

“It went kind of the way we thought it would [early on] but there were a couple of surprises,” Head Coach Jim Gabarra said. “We’re very happy with Allie Long. She’s a very good player that offers us versatility. She can play midfield and she even played up front a little bit at the combine and I think it’s pretty much a consensus she was the best player at the East Coast Combine. We’re really happy to have her and she’s a really good fit for the way we want to play.”

While it had previously been unclear if Scurry, a veteran of the 1999, 2003 and 2007 U.S. Women’s World Cup teams, wanted to be a part of WPS, Gabarra said that after a recent conversation with her agent he felt she was ready to contribute to the new league.

“We’re excited to offer her the opportunity to play for the Freedom,” Gabarra said. “We respect everything she’s done in the past. We think with her experience she is someone who can challenge for the No. 1 spot and if called upon we’re confident she can perform at the level she performed at in the past both in the WUSA and with the national team.”

In addition to Long and Scurry, Gabarra continued his theme of drafting players from his W-League team as seven draft picks had previously played under Gabarra. Second round pick Alex Singer, a two-year W-League player for the Freedom, feels this approach will be very beneficial to the team.

“A big part of any team in the chemistry so having players who have played together and coaches who know the players as well is an advantage,” Singer said. “I think that will be a big advantage.”

During the course of the draft Gabarra was also able to add Lohman via trade with Saint Louis. Lohman was drafted by Saint Louis in the October General Draft. In addition to Lohman the Freedom received the 23rd overall pick of the draft in exchange for the 21st pick in the draft.

Freedom draft selections