Jan. 20, 2009
ST. LOUIS, MO - In the inaugural 2009 Women's Professional Soccer Draft, La Salle Women's Soccer Assistant Coach Christie Shaner was selected in the fourth round with the 25th pick by Sky Blue FC.
Shaner, who joined the Explorers' coaching staff last fall, was a four-year starter at Notre Dame University, and also played five years with FC Indiana - a semi-professional Women's Team in the W-League.
"I am very excited to have been selected by the Sky Blue FC and been given the opportunity to play at the highest possible level in women's soccer," said Shaner. "Playing professional soccer has always been a dream of mine since I have been a little girl and to have it become a reality is unfathomable!
"Over the last few seasons, I have taken some bad injuries (three meniscus tear and an ACL injury), but that has not stopped me from pursuing my dream. I truly believe that through hard work and perseverance, anyone can make anything possible if they put their mind to it."
The WPS is the highest level women's professional soccer league in North America and was formed in September 2007 as the result of the efforts of the Women's Soccer Initiative Inc. The WPS will begin play in April 2009 and consists of seven teams across the country.
Sky Blue FC - also known as New Jersey/New York - is one of the original seven, but the WPS expects to expand to Atlanta and Philadelphia in 2010 and continues to explore additional franchises beyond.
“We are extremely proud of Christie’s recent selection in the 2009 WPS Draft,” said Head Coach Paul Royal. “She has shown our girls the level of professionalism and commitment needed to play at the highest level our country has to offer. She has been an excellent role model for our girls and we wish her all the best in her preseason camp.”
Among some of the current members of the Sky Blue FC, which Shaner will be playing along side of include, three members of the US Gold Medal-Winning Olympic Team, Natasha Kai, Heather O’Reilly, and Christie Rampone.
