Jan. 16, 2009

Complete 2009 WPS Draft Results

FULLERTON, CA - Former Cal State Fullerton women's soccer standouts Karen Bardsley and Erica Janke were selected by Women's Professional Soccer clubs on Friday as the league held its inaugural draft in St. Louis.

Bardsley was the first goalkeeper taken, selected in the third round (18th overall selection) by the Sky Blue FC - the league's New York/New Jersey franchise.

Janke, who had played professionally in Germany following her graduation from Cal State Fullerton, will return to play closer to her native Simi Valley home, selected in the ninth round (61st overall) by the Los Angeles Sol.

The two draftees now give the Titans three players in the league, joining former teammate Kandace Wilson, who was selected with the sixth pick of the second round (13th overall) by the FC Gold Pride in the WPS General Draft back in October.

Bardsley, who recently finished her first season as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego, was a three-time Big West Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and a four-time All-Big West performer - earning first-team honors three times. She holds individual school career records for goals against average (0.84), victories (47), saves (312), shutouts (26), and minutes played (6,395).

Janke was the Big West Conference's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior while also earning all-conference first-team honors in 2005 and 2006. She was a third-team All-West Region selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in 2006 and earned similar honors from Soccer Buzz that season.

Janke and the Sol open the season on March 29 at 3 p.m. against the Washington Freedom at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., while Bardsley and Sky Blue FC open their season against Janke and the Sol on April 5 at home at TD Bank Park in Bridgewater, N.J.

Wilson and the FC Gold Pride open their season on April 5 against the Boston Breakers at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.