INDIANAPOLIS - BYU women's soccer defender Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall has decided to play soccer at the next level and was drafted fourth overall this morning to play for Sky Blue FC in the National Women's Soccer League.
"This is such a huge honor for me and I'm so excited to continue playing soccer at the next level," Cutshall said. "I'm so grateful for amazing coaches, teammates and family that have supported me and made me better."
The 2013 NWSL draft was four rounds with 32 players being allocated to eight different teams. Kendall Johnson from Portland and Roxanne Barker from Pepperdine were the other two players from the West Coast Conference drafted.
"We are so excited for Lindsi to have the opportunity to play in the new professional league," said BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood. "She has had such an amazing career at BYU, and I have no doubt that she will excel at the next level."
Sky Blue Soccer is located in New Jersey and was a member of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) for all three seasons, beginning in 2009 with the launch. Sky Blue FC won the inaugural WPS Championship in 2009.
"We are very happy to have Lindsi as our No. 1 round pick in the NWSL draft," said Sky Blue FC head coach Jim Gabarra. "She has, in my opinion, all the tools to be a good pro. I look forward to working with her."
After leading BYU to its first NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance in nine years, Cutshall was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year and an NSCAA First Team All-American. She anchored a BYU defense that allowed just 13 goals all season and only two games with its opponent scoring more than one goal. Cutshall tallied three goals, two assists and 30 shots from the back line and was also named a semifinalist for the 2012 MAC Hermann Trophy, the highest honor given to a Division I soccer athlete.
"Sky Blue FC is a great club with tremendous talent," Cutshall said. "Coach Gabarra is a legend in professional women's soccer and I'm excited for the opportunity to learn from him."
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It is set to begin play in spring 2013 with eight teams; four of them are former members of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), which ended in 2012. The NWSL has plans to expand to at least 10 teams in the future.
Other members of the NWSL include: Boston Breakers, Washington Spirit, Portland Thorns, Seattle Reign FC, Chicago Red Stars, FC Kansas City and Western New York Flash.
"Meet Sky Blue's First Round pick" by Daily Record
YouTube: Lindsi Cutshall