SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara All-American goalkeeper Bianca Henninger was taken with the first pick in the third round, 13th overall, by the Philadelphia Independence in the 2012 Women's Professional Soccer Draft on Jan. 14. Henninger joins a long list of Broncos to be selected in the WPS Draft including Jordan Angelis (second round), Kiki Bosio (third round), Amanda Poach (third round) Katherine Reynolds (fourth round) and Meagan Snell (fifth round) in 2010.

"I'm very happy for Bianca," said Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith. "She joins a long list of players from Santa Clara University to be drafted to the professional level. I think Philadelphia could be a wonderful situation for her. The starting keeper there has been Nicole Barnhart and she will surely be with the US Team this summer at the Olympic Games which will provide Bianca a wonderful opportunity to possibly get several starts.  Bianca is very talented and confident, and she's a gamer! I know she'll be ready and make the most of her opportunities. She's destined to be a starter at the pro level and will eventually have more opportunities at the international level as she did when she was the Golden Glove winner at the last U20 World Cup. We wish her the best as she graduates from Santa Clara University and thank her for all she has done for our program."

"I'm just really excited to get the opportunity to continue doing something I love," added Henninger. "I'm ready to work to be prepared for preseason coming up, contribute to the team in anyway possible and make everyone at Santa Clara proud."

Henninger, a 2011 preseason All-WCC selection, had another stellar season in net for the Broncos. Making 18 starts she allowed only 13 goals, good for a 0.72 GAA which was second in the WCC. She also made 60 saves and recorded four shutouts en route to being named WCC Goalkeeper of the Year.

In 2010 Henninger was named the U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year and was an All-America selection. In 2010 she collected eight shutouts with a 0.63 GAA and led the WCC with 90 saves and a .865 save percentage.