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Notre Dame Alum Shaner Ready For WPS
One of the newest members of Sky Blue FC, Christie Shaner can't wait to get the first season of Women's Professional Soccer started.
Jan 21, 2009 10:54:31 PM
The creation of Women’s Professional Soccer in 2008 has allowed for amateur women soccer players to take their game to the pro ranks. One such player is Ambler, Pennsylvania native Christie Shaner, who was drafted 25th overall in the inaugural draft earlier this month.
Selected by Sky Blue FC, the team located in the New York/New Jersey area, Shaner was a four-year starter at defense for Notre Dame and most recently an assistant coach at LaSalle University in Philadelphia.
“I wasn’t sure if I played well enough in the combine to be drafted,” said Shaner of her initial feelings as the draft neared. “But before the draft I was contacted by the coaches from a bunch of teams and was reassured by that point. I went out to the draft in St. Louis as I felt it was a once in a lifetime experience that I couldn’t pass over.”
Shaner’s doubts were dashed when Sky Blue FC took her in the fourth round of the draft, which came as a surprise as she thought if she was going to drafted it would be the Chicago Red Stars who would take her.
“It was really nerve-racking, I wasn’t sure when or even if I would get drafted,” said Shaner of being at the draft in St. Louis. “It obviously changes everything once you get drafted, it was a huge relief. I was really surprised that Sky Blue FC took me, but it’ll be really nice being that I can stay in the area and have my family and friends around.”
Though she was drafted into WPS, the league is entering its first season, and there are still question marks about how successful it can be in the long-run. With the collapse of the WUSA in 2004, the league has a model of what not to do, and Shaner feels they have taken all the appropriate steps to ensure a similar result doesn’t happen again.
“Hearing how the coaches talk, they seem to have a good grasp on how they’re going to organize everything,” said Shaner of her interpretation of WPS thus far. “WUSA folded due to poor financial decisions. Each team in WPS has been backed for five years, and we expect to play beyond that given the financial responsibility we have this time. It really broke my heart when the WUSA folded, but I have trained to stay in shape and wasn’t ready to give up.”
Though her team’s first match is over two months away Shaner can’t wait to get the season started. Regardless of when opening day is, the four-time All-Big East defender couldn’t be happier to be a part of this new league featuring the countries best female soccer players.
“I’m on cloud nine, it’s really hard to believe,” Shaner said of her excitement. “It’s always been a dream of mine. Now I get to join a team with players like Julia Sitch and Kelly Parker who I have played with before and have a good understanding. The level of soccer is going to be very competitive and I need to prove why I should be on the team. Few people can say they are on a professional women’s soccer team, and I’m extremely proud that I’m one of them.”
Shaner and Sky Blue FC open their season on April 5th against 3-time defending FIFA World Player of the Year Marta and the Los Angeles Sol.
-- Shane Evans, Goal.com
Selected by Sky Blue FC, the team located in the New York/New Jersey area, Shaner was a four-year starter at defense for Notre Dame and most recently an assistant coach at LaSalle University in Philadelphia.
“I wasn’t sure if I played well enough in the combine to be drafted,” said Shaner of her initial feelings as the draft neared. “But before the draft I was contacted by the coaches from a bunch of teams and was reassured by that point. I went out to the draft in St. Louis as I felt it was a once in a lifetime experience that I couldn’t pass over.”
Shaner’s doubts were dashed when Sky Blue FC took her in the fourth round of the draft, which came as a surprise as she thought if she was going to drafted it would be the Chicago Red Stars who would take her.
“It was really nerve-racking, I wasn’t sure when or even if I would get drafted,” said Shaner of being at the draft in St. Louis. “It obviously changes everything once you get drafted, it was a huge relief. I was really surprised that Sky Blue FC took me, but it’ll be really nice being that I can stay in the area and have my family and friends around.”
Though she was drafted into WPS, the league is entering its first season, and there are still question marks about how successful it can be in the long-run. With the collapse of the WUSA in 2004, the league has a model of what not to do, and Shaner feels they have taken all the appropriate steps to ensure a similar result doesn’t happen again.
“Hearing how the coaches talk, they seem to have a good grasp on how they’re going to organize everything,” said Shaner of her interpretation of WPS thus far. “WUSA folded due to poor financial decisions. Each team in WPS has been backed for five years, and we expect to play beyond that given the financial responsibility we have this time. It really broke my heart when the WUSA folded, but I have trained to stay in shape and wasn’t ready to give up.”
Though her team’s first match is over two months away Shaner can’t wait to get the season started. Regardless of when opening day is, the four-time All-Big East defender couldn’t be happier to be a part of this new league featuring the countries best female soccer players.
“I’m on cloud nine, it’s really hard to believe,” Shaner said of her excitement. “It’s always been a dream of mine. Now I get to join a team with players like Julia Sitch and Kelly Parker who I have played with before and have a good understanding. The level of soccer is going to be very competitive and I need to prove why I should be on the team. Few people can say they are on a professional women’s soccer team, and I’m extremely proud that I’m one of them.”
Shaner and Sky Blue FC open their season on April 5th against 3-time defending FIFA World Player of the Year Marta and the Los Angeles Sol.
-- Shane Evans, Goal.com
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