High School Sports Blog

Mason Kelley covers High School Sports for The Seattle Times. Sandy Ringer is also a frequent contributor to this blog.

January 19, 2010 at 9:09 PM

Sophie Reiser selected in soccer draft

This note was put together by Brady Henderson, one of our news assistants. He doesn't have blog access, so I'm posting it for him.

Former Nathan Hale standout Sophie Reiser was drafted in the fifth round of the Women's Professional Soccer draft by the Chicago Red Stars on Friday.

Reiser, a four-year starter as a forward and midfielder at Columbia University, holds the school's career assist record with 28. She was a three-time All-Ivy League First Team selection and the 2008 Ivy League Player of the Year.

She attended a December tryout for the Red Stars in Chicago and, "got really good feedback from them," she said. The Boston Breakers, one of nine teams in the WPS, also showed interest in drafting Reiser, but the Red Stars selected her with the 42nd overall pick.

"I got to go up and hold up my scarf and take my picture with the coaches and everything," Reiser said. "It was pretty cool. I really liked the coaches and the whole organization when I went out there. Even just knowing them for a short time, they've been so welcoming and encouraging. I'm just really excited to be a part of that."

Reiser is no lock to make the team, however. The Red Stars will trim their roster from about 33 hopefuls down to 18 contracted players - plus four developmental players - before their season begins in April.

"It's going to get pretty competitive, but it's all about putting in the work now and making sure that I set myself up in the best position to be one of those final players," Reiser said.

A four-year starter for Nathan Hale, Reiser was a First Team All-State selection as well as the 2005 Metro League Player of the Year during her senior season. That year she led the Raiders to the second round of the state tournament for the first time in school history.

In 2009, Reiser was named an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American. She is seven credits shy of a political science degree, which she plans to finish in Chicago.

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Sophie Reiser selected in soccer draft

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