Seattle selects Carson Pickett 4th overall in the 2016 NWSL College Draft
Earlier today, at the NCSAA Convention in Baltimore, Seattle Reign FC selected defender Carson Pickett from Florida State University with the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College draft.
Pickett started all 25 games as a defender this season, as the Seminoles reached the College Cup for the fifth season in a row and ninth time overall. Pickett finished with 103 career appearances for Florida State, which is tied for second all-time in FSU history and 10th all-time in NCAA history.
Pickett was unable to attend the draft in Baltimore, but she and her parents watched the live stream together.
“It’s such an honor to be drafted by Seattle Reign FC,” said Pickett. “Reign FC is an awesome family to be a part of and I’m looking forward to meeting all the fans in Seattle. A huge thank you to Seattle Reign FC and especially Laura Harvey to have faith in me. I’m ready to compete for starting position.”
Twenty-one picks later, Reign FC selected defender Paige Nielsen from the University of North Carolina with the 25th overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College draft. In 2015 Nielsen moved into the starting role at center back in UNC’s 3–4–3 formation after starting at forward in 2014. The defender started all 20 games in 2015, playing 1,795 minutes and leading her team in minutes played. In 2014 Nielsen was the team’s leading goal scorer and led the team in game-winning goals on a squad which tied for the ACC regular-season championship. The defender played in all 20 games in 2014, earning starting assignments in nine of UNC’s games.
Summer Green, also from the University of North Carolina, was selected as 30th overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College draft by Seattle Reign FC. Green is a current member of the U.S. U20 National Team which she was elevated to following Carolina’s 2012 NCAA championship campaign. The forward broke the CONCACAF U17 Women’s Soccer Championship record when she scored 12 goals in the five-game qualifying tournament in Guatemala City in May 2012.
Goalkeeper Lindsey Luke from the University of Utah was selected by Reign FC as the 40th overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College draft. Luke started all 20 games during the 2015 season for Utah, playing a total of 1831 minutes. In 2014 Luke finished second in the Pac-12 in save percentage (.825) and saves (4.95), sixth in shutouts (7) and eighth in goals-against average (1.01).
“We are really pleased with the results of today’s draft, as we believe we were able to add four solid players that will each fill a need for us this season,” said Laura Harvey, Reign FC general manager and head coach. “In particular, Pickett is a player that we have been tracking closely for a long time. We were hoping she would still be available with our pick in the first round, so the choice to select her was an easy one. We think she will be a valuable addition to our squad during the upcoming season.”
