Reed, Skroski Selected in 2016 NWSL Draft
Jan 15 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers women's soccer All-America center backs Brianne Reed (Tinton Falls, N.J.) and Erica Skroski (Galloway, N.J.) were selected 18th and 23rd overall, respectively, in the 2016 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Draft, held Friday at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention in Baltimore.
Reed was selected by two-time defending NWSL Champion FC Kansas City. Skroski will continue her playing career on the Yurcak Field pitch playing for local NWSL side Sky Blue FC. The two Scarlet Knights are the first to be drafted into the NWSL, which was founded in 2012.
Reed and Skroski helped Rutgers (19-4-3) to its best season in program history and first trip to the College Cup. The team was tabbed No. 4 in the final NSCAA rankings and achieved program records in wins (19), shutouts (19), home wins (13), and fewest goals allowed (10).
The Scarlet Knights closed 2015 with the best goals-against average (0.375) and shutout percentage (.731) in the nation.
Reed, winner of the 2015 Senior CLASS Award, was a three-year starter at center back. The Red Bank Catholic HS product started 69 matches and played in 87 overall in her Rutgers career, finishing her time in Piscataway with three goals and five assists for 11 points.
A 2014 NSCAA Third Team All-American and two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, Reed excelled in her time at Rutgers and was nominated as a candidate in her senior season for the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy.
A two-time captain for the Scarlet Knights, Skroski was named a 2015 NSCAA Second Team All-American and the 2015 Big Ten Defender of the Year. Her First Team All-Big Ten Conference plaudits in 2015 were the second all-conference honors of her career after earning All-Big Ten Second Team recognition as a junior.
Skroski made 84 starts, logged 7,707 minutes of action, scored five goals and tallied four assists for 14 points in her Rutgers career. The Absegami HS product started 69 consecutive matches in her final three years in Piscataway.
The U.S. Under-23 Women's National Team called Skroski up Thursday for a training camp at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, Calif., from Jan. 18-25. To read more on her selection to the U-23 team, click here. Both Skroski and Reed are set to graduate from Rutgers this spring. The center back duo was part of the first class in Rutgers women's soccer history to guide the program to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments. The team secured a No. 2 seed in 2015, the highest in program history.
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