SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Coming off her second straight All-American nod and a co-WCC Player of the Year award, Sofia Huerta of Santa Clara women's soccer was taken with the second pick of the second round (11th overall) in the National Women's Soccer League Draft by the Chicago Red Stars on Friday. Huerta joins former Bronco standout Julie Johnston in Chicago.
"I am so excited to be going pro," said Huerta. "I feel really good about going to Chicago. I get to play again with Julie who I've been playing with since I was 14. Leslie Osborne also played there and was talking to me about it. There's an adjustment period to going pro and hopefully Julie can help me with that and we can perform like we did at Santa Clara. They are a really good club."
"To be taken 11th overall is awesome and Sofia is very deserving of being one of the top players taken," said Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith. "She has untapped potential and as great as she's been for us with two All-Americans, her best years are in front of her. For her to rejoin Julie Johnson in Chicago is terrific. They were a great combination here at Santa Clara and that will continue at the pro level. I'm very proud of Sofia."
"I'm really excited to have Sofia go to Chicago," said Johnston on reuniting with her college teammate. "It's great playing with people you already have chemistry with on the field. Sofia's drive to get to goal and the power of her shot will really help us, as will her speed. [Head coach] Rory [Dames] did a great job in this 2015 draft."
Huerta was second in the conference with 17 goals and 37 points. She attempted 94 shots and 49 on goal while scoring a WCC-best six game-winners. She accounted for over 50% of the Broncos goals this year. This is the 10th time a Bronco as won WCC Player of the Year.
