Aaron Gordon had a feeling before the start of the 2013 season Elisabeth Sullivan would have a chance to play professional soccer.
Gordon hadn’t coached the senior forward in a game, but the first-year Mississippi State women’s soccer coach believed a high-scoring season by Sullivan would attract the attention of coaches in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Gordon’s insight proved to be spot on Friday, as the Portland Thorns used the 31st overall pick in the fourth round of the NWSL College Draft to select MSU’s all-time leading scorer.
Gordon, who was in Philadelphia for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention, where the NWSL College Draft was held, called Sullivan to congratulate her. Later in the day, he spoke about what it means to have Sullivan be one of only two Southeastern Conference players to be selected in the 36-player draft.
“It is awesome in so many ways,” Gordon said. “I think it is a great testament to Sully’s quality and that she certainly put in all of the hard work. You can only work with what someone is willing to give you. I think she is a testament to what the possibilities of soccer at Mississippi State can be.”
Sullivan scored a single-season record 16 goals as a senior to cap a career in which she became the program leader for goals (39) and points (92) in a career. A two-time All-SEC performer, she is the first MSU player to be drafted.
“I really was hoping I would get on one of the teams,” said Sullivan, who followed the draft on the Internet. “I am really excited. I didn’t think it would be Portland, but I am very excited to play for them.”
Sullivan will join a team that won the 2013 NWSL championship. Portland’s roster includes two of the top forwards in the world, United States National Team player Alex Morgan and Canadian National Team player Christine Sinclair. Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley told The Oregonian on Friday he expects Sullivan to get significant playing time right away because Morgan and Sinclair will miss time with the team to be with their national squads.
“She’s a diamond in the rough,” Riley told The Oregonian. “We kept an eye on her all season. She wasn’t on anybody’s list, but I think she’s going to be a sleeper. I think she’s maybe the third-best forward coming out of the draft.”
The nine NWSL teams had more than 180 players eligible for the draft. Sullivan and Ole Miss forward Rafaelle Souza were the only SEC players selected. The Houston Dash used the 10th overall pick, the first pick of the second round, to take Souza. She is the second player selected in a primary draft in school history.
Sullivan, a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection, was selected after a season in which she scored the third-most points in school history (34). She had eight goals and 17 points in the SEC for a team that finished 3-15 and 0-11 in the league. Sullivan is the first MSU player to receive multiple all-league honors since Meredith Riekert in 1995 and 1997.
Gordon credited Sullivan for not letting the fact she wasn’t at a tradition-rich soccer school like North Carolina or Stanford or UCLA prevent her from making her mark. Gordon, who was an assistant coach for the Atlanta Beat in the Women’s United Soccer Association, a previous women’s professional league in the U.S., said he did his best to make the professional coaches aware of Sullivan’s qualities. He said MSU having a player drafted will be something he uses on the recruiting trail when he tries to identify the next elite goal scorer or SEC prospect.
“She really has the kind of qualities that kind of have become a lost art,” Gordon said. “She can take on players from a dribbling perspective and take them on and beat them.”
Gordon said the next challenge for Sullivan will be to earn a spot on the team. At the professional level, Gordon said all of the players have qualities that make them special. He said what separates players who stick with teams from those who don’t is their ability to translate their skills to the next level. He feels Sullivan’s consistency and maturation at MSU will enable her to translate her explosiveness at the college level to the pro game.
Sullivan knows it will be a challenge taking her game to the next level. She told The Oregonian she will put off graduating from MSU so she can concentrate playing with the Thorns in the spring. Sullivan said she will leave for Portland early in March to get settled in for the start of training camp March 10. She said she never has been to Portland, but she has heard it is a great city.
In the meantime, she said she will train with the MSU soccer team to make sure she is primed to unleash her speed and aggressiveness on unsuspecting defenses.
“I think it is going to be pretty tough,” Sullivan said. “There are some great players on the team, so I definitely have my work cut out of me. I am excited to have that challenge and to be able to work toward something like that.
“I am so honored because I love Mississippi State, and I am so happy to represent Mississippi State and say that this is where I played.”
Souza joins former Rebel Danielle Johnson as the only other player drafted to play professional soccer from Ole Miss. Johnson was taken in the fourth round of the 2010 Women’s Professional Soccer Draft by the Sky Blue FC.
“We’re very proud of Rafa on being drafted,” Ole Miss coach Matthew Mott said. “It’s something she’s worked hard for and deserves. She’s been a great ambassador for our program, for the Southeastern Conference and women’s soccer in her time at Ole Miss. I’m a big Houston Dash fan now.”
In her three-year career for the Rebels, Souza earned All-SEC honors as a junior and senior. She also claimed SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year honors both seasons. She was named an All-Region selection following her junior campaign before claiming second team All-America honors this past season from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
Souza notched an SEC-leading 22 goals this past season and ranked third nationally in goals. She also finished second nationally in points with 50 after adding six assists for the Rebels this season and leading the SEC in points.
Of her 22 goals this season past season, six of them were game-winners. She ended her career as the all-time leader at Ole Miss in goals (44) and points (108).
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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