With draft, WPS Independence comes together

Yesterday wasn't just the first-ever draft day for the Philadelphia Independence. It was a chance for the team's top two players to meet for the first time and become acclimated to the team's top draft picks, coaching personnel and front office.

The Independence, an expansion team in the 2010 Women's Professional Soccer league, had a busy off-season, trading for national team forward Amy Rodriguez and acquiring Swedish national team captain Caroline Seger in the international draft.

They were both at the national coaches' convention this week, attending several events for the league, and were on hand yesterday for the draft at the Convention Center.

The Independence's first of five picks in a seven-round draft came in the second round, the 13th overall selection, when they picked Louisiana State forward Malorie Rutledge, whom general manager Terry Foley called "exciting to watch." Rutledge, an all-American, was named the Southeast Conference offensive player of the year the last two years.

The Independence also selected Kelly Henderson, a defender from Boston College (31st overall), University of Georgia forward Carrie Patterson (40th), Rutgers midfielder Jennifer Anzivino (49th) and Caitlin Farrell, a defender from Wake Forest (58th).

Henderson, a captain in her senior year at Boston College, was a semifinalist for the 2009 Hermann Trophy, which goes to the top Division I soccer player in the country.

"We weren't looking for anyone to have a huge effect immediately, because I think it's a transitional period between this league and college," Foley said.

Patterson was later traded to the Atlanta Beat for South Florida goalkeeper Mallori Lofton-Malachi, who attended Central High School in Philadelphia. Both were selected in the fifth round, Patterson 40th and Lofton-Malachi 39th overall.

"Mallori is a local Philadelphia girl and we were going to pick her, but then Atlanta did. We knew how passionate Mallori was about coming back [to Philadelphia]," explained Foley. "Patterson is from Georgia, so I think we did the right thing by both kids."

Anzivino was also traded before the last round of the draft. She was sent to Sky Blue FC for the team's seventh round pick, 62d overall. With that pick the Independence drafted Danielle Collins, a William and Mary midfielder who also happens to work as the team's director of communications.

On Thursday night, Rodriguez flew in from California, where she was training with the national team. She got to finally meet owner David Halstead, head coach Paul Riley, and GM Foley for the first time since the Independence acquired her in September in a trade with the Boston Breakers for yesterday's second overall pick.

The cross-country trip, and first-ever visit to Philadelphia, was a chance to "hear the philosophy of Dave, Terry and Paul" as well as to "start to engage in a relationship that will obviously be developing more as the season starts," Rodriguez said yesterday. It also gave her a chance to see what "the city, organization were like."

For Seger, the convention was a chance to meet players she had played against in the international level and have a chance to get acclimated to places and people she will have to become familiar with once she moves here from Sweden before preseason begins.

Training camp starts March 1, with 28 players vying for 22 roster spots. The Independence's first home game is April 11 at John A. Farrell Stadium at West Chester University.

Round                        Position      School

2 (13)   Malorie Rutledge      Midfielder   LSU

4 (31) Kelly Henderson      Defender   Boston College

5* (39) Mallori Lofton-Malachi    Keeper   South Florida

7 (58) Caitlin Farrell         Defender   Wake Forest

7 (62) Danielle Collins      Midfielder   William and Mary

*Acquired Lofton-Malachi from Atlanta (39th pick) for Carrie Patterson (40th pick). Traded Jennifer Anzivino (49th) to Sky Blue FC.

EndText