NEWS NEWS

3 SEALIONS DRAFTED INTO PRO RANKS!
Tuesday Jan 27, 2009
SAN DIEGO - Three San Diego WFC players were drafted by Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) teams for the 2009 season, including the former captain of the Chinese National Team, Ouying Zhang.

"Although we're disappointed to be losing Ouying Zhang for 2009, we are ecstatic for her," said SDWFC SeaLions President Lu Snyder of the former WUSA SD Spirit midfielder.  "She's in great shape, and her skills are as sharp as ever.  If she's given the chance, she can take a team into the playoffs."

Zhang was drafted by the New Jersey Sky Blue in the seventh round of last week's WPS Draft.  She has played for the SeaLions the past three seasons, including the SeaLions' remarkable run to the National Final Four in 2006, and captained China's 1999 and 2003 World Cup and 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams. She also played for the San Diego Spirit in the WUSA in 2002-2003.
 
In 2006 Zhang was named to the WPSL Final Four National All-Tournament Team. In 2007, she scored 5 goals and was named First Team All-WPSL.

The Washington Freedom selected former SeaLion Jill Gilbeau (Texas) in the 4th round In September.  In September USWNT defender Rachel Buehler (Stanford) was allocated to the Bay Area Gold Pride.  Gilbeau played for San Diego during the 2007 before moving to Washington prior to the 2008 season.  Buehler played for the SeaLions in 2006 and 2007, but missed most of 2008 while on National Team duty.

Established in 1988, San Diego WFC, Inc. is one of the oldest female soccer clubs in the USA.  The WPSL is a 50-plus team national women's soccer league with five conferences and is considered one of the top women's soccer leagues in the world.