Below are both press releases from Texas Tech:
Texas Tech all-time leading sorcerer, Janine Beckie became the second straight top-10 pick from the Texas Tech women’s soccer program Friday, as the Houston Dash selected the Highlands Ranch, Colo., native with the eighth pick in the 2016 National Women’s Soccer League draft.
“I am incredibly blessed with this opportunity,” Said Beckie. “I can’t thank Randy and his staff enough for taking a chance on me and believing in my abilities. My biggest thank you has got to go to everyone at Texas Tech who have made all of this possible for me. Words cannot express how grateful I am for what everyone there has given me and the places Tom and his staff have taken me. Texas Tech changed my life and I cannot wait to start my professional career in a state that that has a very special place in my heart. Dash on!”
Beckie, a three-time All American, was selected by the Houston Dash who held the fifth, sixth and eighth positions in this year’s National Women’s Soccer League draft. The Dash finished fifth in the NWSL standings with a 6-8-6 record in the 2015 season.
“We are thrilled to see Janine take her game to the professional level,” said Texas Tech head coach Tom Stone. “Over the last four years she has done everything possible to be prepared for this opportunity and it could not have happened to a more deserving young lady. It will be fun to be able to see her play the game she loves for the Houston Dash.”
Beckie will join a relatively young roster led by US Women’s National Team members Morgan Brian and Carli Lloyd as well as Canadian National Team member Lauren Sesselmann and Brazilian National Team members Andressa Machry and Poliana Medeiros.
Beckie played in 23 matches during the 2015 season. She recorded three multi-goal outings in 2015 including the Red Raider’s final game in the second round of the NCAA Championship against Auburn. Beckie’s 14 goals this season rank 18th nationally with six of those goals standing as game winners. Beckie finished her Texas Tech career with 57 career goals making her the all-time leader in goals scored at Tech, as well as the fifth highest active career goal scorer in the nation during the 2015 season.
For the second straight season, Texas Tech produced the first Big 12 student-athlete to have her named called in the NWSL draft after Jaelene Hinkle was selected with the seventh pick in last season’s draft.
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Alli Murphy will continue her playing career with the Washington Spirit in the National Women’s Soccer League who picked up the midfielder with the 20th overall pick in in the 2016 NWSL draft.
“I couldn’t be happier,” said Murphy. “I am incredibly blessed with the opportunity the Washington Spirit is giving me to pursue my dreams. I am so thankful to Texas Tech University and the hard work that has been done to help me get to this point in my life. I would also like to give a special thank you to my family who has been beside me through all of this and have been my biggest fans. Now I am ready to take the talents God has given me to the Spirit family!”
Murphy completed her Texas Tech career with 25 total assists ranking third all-time in Texas Tech Soccer history in that category and 14th nationally amongst active players in the 2015 NCAA season.
“What an exciting moment for Alli Murphy and Red Raider Soccer,” said head Texas Tech coach Tom Stone. “She is headed to the perfect place for and coach for her game to be appreciated and utilized. We are so excited for a player like Alli who has shown such incredible commitment to her craft combined with relentless mentality to move her career to the pro level. Now she has the opportunity to make that happen. We have graduated one of our best, but we are happy to still get to see her play in the NWSL.”
Murphy scored 13 goals in her time at Texas Tech including the game winning goal against South Florida this past season giving the Red Raiders a crucial home win, and Tom Stone his 100th career victory.
With Murphy’s pick, Texas Tech joined Florida State, Virginia and Notre Dame as the only schools with multiple selections in the first and second rounds of this season’s draft.
