WASHINGTON – Georgetown University women's soccer standout Kyra Carusa (San Diego, Calif. / Del Norte / Stanford) was selected in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) College Draft on Thursday afternoon in Chicago. Carusa was drafted by Sky Blue FC with the first pick in the third round, 19th overall.
"We are very happy for Kyra and her opportunity at Sky Blue FC," said Georgetown Head Coach Dave Nolan. "I feel she can really step in and help them and that excites her."
Carusa finished the season with 32 points, the team's second best. The graduate student recorded 10 goals and 12 assists, including 10 points from three goals and four helpers during the NCAA Tournament. In her single year playing for the Blue & Gray, Carusa sits eighth in all-time single-season records at Georgetown in goals, third in assists and fifth in points.
The forward earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST Second Team and the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team. Earlier this season, Carusa was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-East Regional First Team and was the only Hoya to be named to the College Cup All-Tournament Team.
There were two Hoyas in the draft pool this year. Carusa was joined by fellow GU standout Caitlin Farrell (Wallingford, Conn. / Choate Rosemary Hall), one of three MAC Hermann Trophy Finalists this year.
"I was very surprised with events at the NWSL Draft today," said Nolan. "Because both Caitlin and Kyra are finishing school and are therefore not available until May, it definitely pushed coaches away and as a result, both girls suffered in their selection. Caitlin has been swamped with teams now looking for her Discovery Rights and Kyra went a little lower than expected to Sky Blue FC in the third round."
Farrell was unanimously selected as the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and received the only unanimous vote to be on the All-BIG EAST First Team. The senior forward was named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team and earned the Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the tournament. Farrell was named to the United Soccer Coaches Division I All-East Regional First Team and a First Team All-American, as well as a First Team Academic All-American. The senior was also named a Class of 2019 Honda Sport Award for Soccer finalist last month. Farrell is the first player on the GU women's soccer team, and only the second player in school history, to be named a MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist.
Farrell led the Hoyas in her last season on the Hilltop with 39 points from 18 goals and three assists. She is tied for first at Georgetown with most goals in a single season (18) and finished second in the country in game-winning goals (8), third in total goals (18) and fourth in total points (39).
"Caitlin is in the unusual position of considering opportunities with four clubs and deciding what is the best option to pursue," said Nolan. "Neither girl will be lacking opportunities elsewhere, as both have the opportunity to play in Europe, too, should they not find the right club here. We are very proud of them and excited where soccer takes them next."
Carusa is the fifth player in program history to be selected in a professional draft. Last year, Elizabeth Wenger (C'18) was selected 17th overall and Daphne Corboz (C'15) and Emily Menges (C'14) were selected 25th overall in their respective years. Ingrid Wells (C'11) was selected ninth overall in the 2012 Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) draft.
The graduate student is one of two BIG EAST Conference players to be drafted this year. She will join Butler's Paige Monaghan on Sky Blue FC. Monaghan was the 10th overall pick.
