Three UCLA players among top 4 picks in women’s soccer draft

Three UCLA players were taken in the first four picks of Friday’s National Women’s Soccer League draft.

University of Virginia midfielder Morgan Brian was the top overall selection, going to the Houston Dash. But Bruin midfielder Sarah Killion went to New Jersey’s Sky Blue FC with the No. 2 pick while teammates Abigail Dahlkemper, a defender, and Samantha Mewis, a midfielder, both went to the Western New York Flash with the next two picks.

Brian, a two-time winner of the Hermann Trophy -- college soccer’s version of football’s Heisman award -- is in camp with the U.S. women’s national team as is Mewis, an All-American and winner of the Honda award.

A day earlier UCLA midfielder Leo Stolz, winner of the men’s Hermann Trophy, was drafted by the New York Red Bulls with the 18th pick in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

Three other players from Southern California colleges were also selected: UC Riverside defender Otis Earle went to FC Dallas with the 15th pick while Cal State Northridge teammates Sagi Lev-Ari and Edwin Rivas were second-round choices.

Lev-Ari, a forward, went to Columbus while Rivas, also a forward, was taken by Toronto FC. It was the first time two Northridge players were selected in the same draft.

Follow Kevin Baxter on Twitter @kbaxter11