PROVO, Utah – Ashley Hatch and Michele Vasconcelos were selected in the National Women's Soccer League College Draft on Thursday afternoon.
Hatch was picked second overall by the North Carolina Courage (formerly the Western New York Flash) and Vasconcelos was taken 11th overall (first pick of second round) by the Chicago Red Stars.
With the second overall pick in the 2017 #nwsldraft, the @TheNCCourage select forward @ash_hatch33 from @byusoccer_w. pic.twitter.com/M3DUiTbUcy
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 12, 2017
Welcome to Chicago, @murph_vas7. pic.twitter.com/ruEl9XA4R4
— Chicago Red Stars (@chicagoredstars) January 12, 2017
The two players, who were seniors in 2016, are among the most decorated in BYU women's soccer history.
Hatch was a National Soccer Coaches Association of America First Team All-American in 2016 and the West Coast Conference Co-Player of the Year in 2014.
Vasconcelos was the WCC Player of the Year in 2016 and an NSCAA Academic All-American.
BYU has had two other players drafted to the NWSL, which was founded in 2012 and has 10 teams. Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall was picked fourth overall by Sky Blue FC in the 2013 draft, and Cloee Colohan was selected 14th overall in 2014 by the Western New York Flash.