Spisak and Martino Selected in WPS Draft
Jan 16, 2009 | Soccer
Jan. 16, 2009
ST. LOUIS - Former Texas A&M soccer players Kati Jo Spisak and Allison Martino were selected in the 2009 Women's Professional Soccer Draft on Friday.
Spisak was taken by the Washington Freedom in eighth round and was the 50th pick overall. Martino was chosen by the Boston Breakers in the ninth round as the 57th pick.
"This is an exciting time for female players with professional aspirations who want to play beyond their college years," said A&M head coach G Guerrieri. "I am proud of the many young ladies that Texas A&M has helped to follow their dreams and who have been able to make that step into professional soccer, so today I'm very excited for Kati Jo and Allison. They are great young women and wonderful players who really grew and developed in our program. I know they will be terrific pros in the WPS."
Spisak was a member of the Washington Freedom Soccer Club in the United Soccer League's W-League, a league that is recognized throughout the world for providing elite competition for women's players, since 2007. She started every game of her collegiate career in goal for the Aggies and posted a school record 24 shutouts. In her senior season, Spisak was named to the All-Big 12 first team and the Big 12 All-Tournament team. The Manchester, Mo., native was a four-year member of the Soccer Buzz All-Central Region team and was an NSCAA All-American in 2003.
In her four-year stint at A&M, Spisak climbed to the top of the Aggie record books, holding the No. 1 spot for most career saves (291) and most minutes in goal (8559:18). She is second in most career shutouts (24).
Martino spent 2008 as a student manager for the Aggies after a successful four years in the A&M uniform. From Draper, Utah, Martino established herself as one of the fastest players in the Big 12 with the ball at her feet. She was named to the Soccer Buzz All-Central Region third team and the All-Big 12 second team as a junior before earning All-Big 12 first-team honors in 2007. Martino tallied eight goals and 22 assists as an Aggie.
The 2009 WPS Draft was a multi-round draft for players who participated in either the WPS West Coast Combine or the WPS East Coast Combine (which includes players who will have just completed their NCAA eligibility), as well as any other undrafted players whose rights have not yet been assigned to a WPS team. It consisted of 10 rounds with 70 players drafted.
WPS is the highest level women's professional soccer league in North America. The inaugural WPS season will kick off in April 2009.
