A Look At Sky Blue’s Four Draft Picks at The Recent NWSL Draft

Added by Steven Farkas on January 25, 2013.

New York native, Rebecca Kaplan, was selected by Sky Blue FC in the fourth round. Kaplan played at Maryland University. (Photo courtesy of Maryland University website)

Sky Blue FC made new additions to its 2013 roster at the NWSL draft last week, selecting four players and bringing their roster to eleven. The team selected BYU defender Lindsi Lisonbee-Cutshall with its first round pick, then added Portland defender Kendall Johnson, Georgia goalkeeper Ashley Baker and Maryland forward Rebecca Kaplan with its picks over the next three rounds.

“The College Draft is a very important step in the roster building process,” Sky Blue FC head coach Jim Gabarra stated. “Based upon your needs, as well as what is available to you on the draft board, you make the best choices for your team. Today went very well for us, and we acquired some good players who will be contributing this season.”

Lisonbee-Cutshall was a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist this past fall, registering three goals and two assists despite starting on the back line for the Cougars. She also spearheaded a defensive effort that allowed a mere 13 goals all season long. In addition to being named the 2012 West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Year, Lisonbee-Cutshall was also selected to the NSCAA All-America First Team.

Kendall Johnson, an Oregon native, has been a mainstay in the U.S. National Team Youth System, having played for both the U-20 and U-23 sides. After being named the WCC Co-Freshman of the Year in 2009, she earned All-WCC Second Team accolades the following season as a sophomore. Injury cost Johnson her 2011 campaign, but she fully recovered in anticipation of this past fall, which became her best collegiate year.

England native Ashley Baker had a standout career at the University of Georgia in the keeper position, finishing with the fourth most saves in program history after tallying 305 stops. She also stands third in her school record books with 20 career shutouts, and her 112 saves as a senior were the third most in Bulldogs history.

A native of Oyster Bay, New York, Rebecca Kaplan  was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Second Team this past fall after registering 12 goals and six assists as a senior. She struck a total of 30 shots on frame for the Terps, putting away a team-leading six game-winning goals as well. For her four-year college career, she collected 20 scores and set up another 12 knocks. Her 52 career points are also good enough to place her 11th on the all-time list at Maryland.