Wagner and Hawkins picked in WUSA Draft

By Josh Griffin

Senior All-American midfielder Aly Wagner was chosen first overall by the San Diego Spirit in Sunday's Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) draft, while fellow senior midfielder Devvyn Hawkins was taken two picks later by the Boston Breakers.

Wagner is the second consecutive Santa Clara graduate to be drafted with the first overall pick in the WUSA draft, after Danielle Slaton was picked in 2002 first overall by the Carolina Courage.

Both Wagner and Hawkins earned All-American honors while at Santa Clara, and both were key components in the 2001 national championship and 2002 national runner-up teams. Additionally, they both played key roles with the United States National Team at the Four Nations Cup in January in China.

Entering its third year, the eight-team league is the premiere women's soccer league in the United States. Santa Clara alumna Brandi Chastain is a member of the San Jose CyberRays, and twelve other former Broncos are currently active in the league.

Wagner, a native of San Jose, Calif., won the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy for the nation's outstanding women's soccer player in 2002, following her Honda Award in 2001. She finished the season fourth on the team with 27 points on nine goals and nine assists, while missing time to play with the United States national team for World Cup qualifying.

Hawkins scored 17 points on the season, including six goals and five assists. She scored the only goal for Santa Clara in the national championship loss to the University of Portland. She excelled as the best defensive midfielder in the country, and has a future that figures prominently in the future of United States soccer.

Both will begin play with their new teams in the WUSA in the spring of 2003.