Three Tar Heels Selected By WPLL

CHAPEL HILL—A trio of University of North Carolina players highlight the list of 25 athletes selected to join the Women's Professional Lacrosse League in the 2019 WPLL Spring Draft, held this week.

The Tar Heels selected include:
Emily Garrity Parros, Pick #9, WPLL Brave
Charlotte Sofield, Pick #24, WPLL Fire
Kara Klages, selected as a WPLL pool player

This brings the total number of UNC players in the WPLL to 12, good for the second-most represented program in the league. The Tar Heel players for the 2019 season are:

WPLL Brave
Emily Garrity Parros
Marie McCool (2018 WPLL MVP)
Laura Zimmerman (2018 WPLL All-Star)

WPLL Command
Ela Hazar (2018 WPLL Champion, New England Command)
Amber Falcone McKenzie (2018 WPLL Champion, New England Command)

WPLL Fight
Lindsay Scott

WPLL Fire
Aly Messinger (2018 WPLL Champion, New England Command)
Charlotte Sofield
Courtney Waite
Caylee Waters

WPLL Pride
Kristen Carr
Sammy Jo Tracy

Though just the WPLL's second Spring Draft, the 2019 WPLL Spring Draft Class has the potential to go down as one of the most talented classes the league will ever see. With the 2019 college season still underway, and more awards set to come, the draftees have already accumulated an impressive list of honors. 14 players have been named All-Americans, 7 players have won NCAA Championships, and 8 players have played at the international level for Team USA and Team Canada.

"As a league one of our goals is to continue raising the level of talent we field each and every season," explained WPLL Commissioner Jen Adams. "With this mission in mind, we are thrilled to welcome the group of players selected in the 2019 WPLL Spring Draft. Their accomplishments in college and at the international level speak for themselves, and we are excited to see how their games will transition at the pro level."

The 2019 WPLL Spring Draft consisted of five rounds and gave each of the five WPLL teams to select five new players to join their team for the WPLL season, bringing each team's final roster to 25 players. The 11 midfielders, 8 attackers, 5 defenders, and 1 goalie selected have the opportunity to play in the most competitive women's lacrosse league the world has ever seen. 23 of the players drafted in the 2019 WPLL Spring Draft are current college seniors while #9 pick Emily Garrity Parros (UNC / Team USA, WPLL Brave) and #22 pick Carolyn Jamison (UMBC, WPLL Brave) graduated in 2013 and 2018, respectively.

In addition to drafting 25 players to join active rosters, the 2019 WPLL Spring Draft selected 5 current college seniors as WPLL Pool Players. While not currently on a full-time roster, WPLL Pool Players have the opportunity to take part in WPLL Pro Days, work at WPLL clinics, and be called up to play in WPLL games should a team need players to fill their travel roster. The WPLL Pool Player additions are: Avery Shoemaker (UVA, attack), Hanna Haven (JMU, attack), Hannah Powers (Loyola, attack), Hannah Proctor (Notre Dame, defense), and Kara Klages (UNC, midfield).

"There are so many talented college seniors out there, and unfortunately we cannot field all qualified players on WPLL rosters at this time," explains Adams. The WPLL Player Pool allows players that were not drafted to WPLL rosters to have an opportunity to play a vital role in the league while being considered for future playing opportunities should they present themselves."

Below is a summary of the first round of the 2019 WPLL Spring Draft:

2019 WPLL Spring Draft Class

1) San Apuzzo, BC, Attack, FIGHT
2) Dempsey Arsenault, BC, Midfield, BRAVE
3) Kenzie Kent, BC, Attack, COMMAND
4) Selena Lasota, Northwestern, Attack, FIRE
5) Erica Evans, Maryland, Midfield, PRIDE
6) Jen Giles, Maryland, Midfield, PRIDE
7) Maggie Jackson, Virginia, Midfield, FIRE
8) Olivia Jenner, Duke, Attack, COMMAND
9) Emily Garrity Parros, UNC, Midfield, BRAVE
10) Lindsey Ronbeck, Florida, Attack, FIGHT
11) Elizabeth George, Princeton, Midfield, FIGHT
12) Kayla Brisolari, Penn State, Midfield, BRAVE
13) Miranda Stinson, Colorado, Attack, COMMAND
14) Taylor VanThof, Loyola, Midfield, FIRE
15) Sydney Pirreca, Florida, Midfield, PRIDE
16) Elizabeth Miller, BC, Defense, PRIDE
17) Francesca Whitehurst, Georgetown, Midfield, FIRE
18) Julia Braig, Maryland, Defense, COMMAND
19) Caroline Sdanowich, JMU, Defense, BRAVE
20) Lindsey Ehrhardt, Loyola, Defense, FIGHT
21) Megan Taylor, Maryland, Goalie, FIGHT
22) Carolyn Jamison, UMBC, Midfield, BRAVE
23) Izzy Nixon, Yale, Attack, COMMAND
24) Charlotte Sofield, UNC, Defense, FIRE
25) Caroline Steele, Maryland, Attack, PRIDE

Scoreboard Slider

University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Ela Hazar

Kara Klages

Marie McCool

Charlotte Sofield

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