The Houston Dash selected goalkeeper Jane Campbell, forward Nichelle Prince and defender Erin Smith today at the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) College Draft.
“We were extremely excited to see the way the draft played out in the early rounds,” head coach, Randy Waldrum said. “When you come in with a second and fourth-round pick you’re not sure what you’re going to get, but I’m coming away today feeling really good about the draft, considering that’s what we had going into it and the way things played out.”
Campbell, the No. 15 overall pick, was named to the 2016 NSCAA All-American Team and will join Dash teammates Carli Lloyd, Morgan Brian and Kealia Ohai at the U.S. Women’s National Team training camp in Carson, Calif. later this week. The Stanford product finished her collegiate career with 35 shutouts, tied for the most in program history; 7431 minutes defending the Cardinal goal with 210 saves.
“[Campbell] is the future of the [U.S.] Women’s National Team, when she was available it just felt like we couldn’t pass on her,” Waldrum said. “She was just the best player on the board at that spot for us.”
Prince, the No. 28 overall pick, was acquired after Houston traded a second-round pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft to the Chicago Red Stars for the eighth pick of the third round. The forward is a member of the Canadian National Team and won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games last summer with Dash teammate Janine Beckie. Prince played collegiately at Ohio State University and finished her collegiate career with 27 goals and 20 assists in 72 games for the Buckeyes.
“It was a bit of a surprise to get the trade with Chicago to be able to pick Nichelle Prince, that’s one we are extremely excited about,” the head coach said. “She’s a young player with an Olympic bronze medal and a full-time national team player that brings something a little different to what we have up front.”
Smith, the No. 33 overall pick, was named to the 2016 All-Big Ten First Team and the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team. The defender started 73 consecutive matches and lead all field players during her four year career in minutes with 2,174.
“We also needed some depth in the back so Erin Smith was a player that I had my eye on, really from the beginning of the draft,” Waldrum said.
