Photo by: Rich Graessle
Swaby Drafted into the National Women's Soccer League
Jan 16 | Women's Soccer
BALTIMORE – Senior defender Chantelle Swaby of Rutgers women's soccer was selected 29th overall by Sky Blue FC in the 2020 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) College Draft, held at the Baltimore Convention Center on Thursday. Swaby becomes the seventh Scarlet Knight in the last five years to be drafted to the league.
Swaby closed out her career as a three-time All-Big Ten selection, two-time All-Region honoree and three-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient. In 2019, Swaby anchored the back line in holding opponents to three shots or less on goal in 10 matches, including holding three Big Ten teams to just six shots or less overall in the game.
The West Hartford, Connecticut, native helped guide the defense to a national ranking of 21st in GAA and 20th in save percentage in 2019. On offense, she added two assists, one of which assisted the golden goal in the 1-0 OT win against Purdue. Her efforts helped lead Rutgers to a second-place finish in the Big Ten in 2019 for the second straight season and to the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals.
With the 2019 senior class, Swaby pushed RU to an overall mark of 51-15-19 and a Big Ten mark of 25-7-12 in their four years "On the Banks," totaling 48 shutouts along the way. The group propelled Rutgers to four NCAA Tournaments, extending the Scarlet Knight streak to eight straight bids, 10 in 12 years and 14 appearances overall.
This summer, Swaby joined Jamaica at the 2019 FIFA World Cup in France. She started all three games and played 225 minutes in the group phase for the historic Jamaica roster, having earned its first-ever bid to the tournament and becoming the first Caribbean nation to qualify.
Swaby and the Reggae Girlz progressed through the Caribbean zone of the qualifying to reach the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship. At the Championship, the squad secured a third-place finish and a spot at France 2019 with a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Panama.
Swaby joins Sky Blue FC as the club readies for an exciting move to Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, for all home matches this upcoming 2020 season. Red Bull Arena, which seats 25,000, is considered the benchmark for soccer-specific stadiums in North America. She becomes the fifth former Scarlet Knight on the roster, including Carli Lloyd, Madison Tiernan, Erica Skroski and Kenie Wright.
Swaby is now the eighth active Scarlet Knight in the NWSL. In addition to the four on Sky Blue, Kristen Edmonds (Orlando Pride), Casey Murphy (Seattle Reign), and Madison Pogarch (Portland Thorns) are all on rosters in the league.
It marks the fifth consecutive season that the program had at least one player drafted into the NWSL. Last year, Kenie Wright was selected as the second pick in the fourth round also by local New Jersey side Sky Blue FC. In 2018, Casey Murphy was selected 13th overall by the club as well.
In 2016, Tiernan was drafted 24th overall by Sky Blue FC and Erin Smith was picked 33rd overall by the Houston Dash. In 2015, Brianne Reed was selected 18th overall by FC Kansas City and Skroski at 23rd overall by Sky Blue FC to become the first Scarlet Knights to be drafted into the league.
Follow Rutgers women's soccer on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Download the Scarlet Knights App for Apple or Android today.
With the #29 overall pick in the 2020 #NWSLDraft, we've selected Chantelle Swaby.
— Sky Blue FC (@SkyBlueFC) January 16, 2020
Welcome to #SBFC @chantelleswaby! pic.twitter.com/XXpySqavPK
From @RUAthletics ➡️ @SkyBlueFC
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 16, 2020
Chantelle Swaby is chosen with the 29th overall pick. #NWSLDraft pic.twitter.com/aWiMX3xHBB
| COLLEIGATE CAREER |
The West Hartford, Connecticut, native helped guide the defense to a national ranking of 21st in GAA and 20th in save percentage in 2019. On offense, she added two assists, one of which assisted the golden goal in the 1-0 OT win against Purdue. Her efforts helped lead Rutgers to a second-place finish in the Big Ten in 2019 for the second straight season and to the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals.
With the 2019 senior class, Swaby pushed RU to an overall mark of 51-15-19 and a Big Ten mark of 25-7-12 in their four years "On the Banks," totaling 48 shutouts along the way. The group propelled Rutgers to four NCAA Tournaments, extending the Scarlet Knight streak to eight straight bids, 10 in 12 years and 14 appearances overall.
| JAMAICAN NATIONAL TEAM |
Swaby and the Reggae Girlz progressed through the Caribbean zone of the qualifying to reach the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship. At the Championship, the squad secured a third-place finish and a spot at France 2019 with a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Panama.
| SWABY TO SKY BLUE FC |
Swaby is now the eighth active Scarlet Knight in the NWSL. In addition to the four on Sky Blue, Kristen Edmonds (Orlando Pride), Casey Murphy (Seattle Reign), and Madison Pogarch (Portland Thorns) are all on rosters in the league.
| NWSL KNIGHTS |
It marks the fifth consecutive season that the program had at least one player drafted into the NWSL. Last year, Kenie Wright was selected as the second pick in the fourth round also by local New Jersey side Sky Blue FC. In 2018, Casey Murphy was selected 13th overall by the club as well.
In 2016, Tiernan was drafted 24th overall by Sky Blue FC and Erin Smith was picked 33rd overall by the Houston Dash. In 2015, Brianne Reed was selected 18th overall by FC Kansas City and Skroski at 23rd overall by Sky Blue FC to become the first Scarlet Knights to be drafted into the league.
From #FIFAWWC with 🇯🇲 Jamaica to @SkyBlueFC 🔵
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) January 16, 2020
Congrats, @chantelleswaby 👏#NWSLDraft pic.twitter.com/i3RRfAD3q0
GOING PRO! .@chantelleswaby is drafted by New Jersey's @SkyBlueFC with the 29th overall pick in the 2020 #NWSLDraft!
— RutgersWomensSoccer (@RUWSoccer) January 16, 2020
Congrats, Chantelle!!#ForeverRutgers #ForeverFamily pic.twitter.com/lCxTqBE8nN
Follow Rutgers women's soccer on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Download the Scarlet Knights App for Apple or Android today.
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