The Washington Freedom selected the University of Colorado’s Nikki Marshall with the seventh overall pick Friday in the Women’s Professional Soccer League draft, fulfilling a childhood dream for the Buffs’ star from Mead, who played for Skyline High School in Longmont.
“It’s absolutely been one of my dreams,” Marshall said. “Along with playing in the Olympics, it’s something I’ve been working hard for for a long, long time. The past couple of years have been incredible for me. . . . Winning the World Cup, being drafted in the first round. It all hasn’t sunk in yet, it’s so great and exciting.”
Marshall played every minute of every game for the 2008 U.S. Under-20 World Cup team and was named woman of the match after the Americans defeated North Korea in the championship match.
Marshall was one of only seven players invited to attend the draft, which she did with her mother, Kelly. Two of Marshall’s teammates on the Freedom will be U.S. national team stalwarts Cat Whitehill and Abby Wambach.
“I cannot be more elated to play with Cat Whitehill and Abby Wambach,” Marshall said.
• Taryn Hemmings, formerly of the University of Denver and Greeley West High School, was taken by the Boston Breakers with the 65th pick (in the seventh round) in the WPSL draft. Hemmings was a two-time Sun Belt Conference player of the year.
