The Houston Dash have selected midfielder Morgan Brian from the University of Virginia with the first overall pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft.
The 21-year-old midfielder has earned 19 caps and scored three goals with the United States Women’s National Team while still playing college soccer. Brian is currently with the USWNT in training camp at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, California.
A native of St. Simons Island, Georgia, Brian finished her high school career as the nation’s top recruit and the 2011 Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year before choosing to play collegiately at Virginia. She earned a bevy of plaudits at the college level as four-time first team All-ACC, three-time All-America and, as of last week, two-time MAC Hermann Trophy winner as the nation’s top female college soccer player, becoming the fifth player in history to do so. Brian led the Cavaliers to an ACC tournament championship in 2012, an ACC regular season championship and NCAA College Cup appearance in 2013, and a spot in the national championship game in 2014. Brian finished her collegiate career as Virginia’s all-time assist leader (43) and fourth on the all-time goals chart (41).
Brian joined the U.S. youth national teams as a teenager, and was called up for the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup as a U-15 player. Four years later, Brian started all six matches as the U.S. won the 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup. She made her senior team debut a year later at the end of her sophomore year in college as a 20-year-old, and has since become a fixture on the USWNT roster, appearing 16 times (11 starts) in 2014. Brian was recently named the 2014 U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year.
The Dash also hold the No. 13 and 31 picks in today’s draft.
