Former KU Soccer Standout Johnson Drafted into NWSL
Feb. 14, 2013
CHICAGO – Kansas soccer’s former All-Big 12 defender Estelle Johnson was selected in the first round of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) supplemental draft last Thursday. Johnson was taken with the eighth overall pick by the Western New York Flash in the league that will begin its inaugural season in mid-April.
Johnson became the first Jayhawk ever drafted by a women’s professional team when she was taken in the third round by the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league’s Los Angles Sol in 2010. Shortly after being drafted the Sol folded and Johnson was then picked up by the Philadelphia Independence where she played two seasons until the league folded in 2011.
A defender from Fort Collins, Colo., Johnson played in a total of 85 matches while anchoring the Jayhawk defense from 2006-09. She scored a career-high three goals and tallied 1,987 minutes in 2009, ranking as the fourth-most single-season minutes in team history. She finished her career tied for the most games started (82) and was fourth in games played (85) in school history.
She was a three-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Central Region selection in her Jayhawk career, including a second-team honoree in 2009. As a senior, she was named an All-Big 12 selection and was honored on the Academic All-Big 12 team twice.
Johnson joins fellow Jayhawk and former teammate Whitney Berry as KU grads that will see action in the NWSL this year. Berry was drafted by FC Kansas City in the third round of the NWSL’s collegiate draft on Jan. 18. Berry and FC Kansas will open their season against the Portland Thorns on Saturday, April 13 at Shawnee Mission North High School Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Johnson and the Flash will kick off their year against Sky Blue FC on Sunday, April 14 at Yurak Field Stadium in Piscataway, N.J.
For more information on the NWSL visit www.nwslsoccer.com.
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