Oklahoma State University Athletics
Mercado Drafted By WPS's Boston Breakers
January 13, 2012 | Cowgirl Soccer
Jan. 13, 2012
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Oklahoma State two-time All-American Melinda Mercado was selected in the third round of today's Women's Professional Soccer Draft by the Boston Breakers
Mercado, a defender who completed her Cowgirl soccer career last November, was taken with the third pick of the third round (16th overall pick) of today's draft. She is OSU's highest-ever WPS Draft pick and the second in school history; Kasey Langdon was a sixth-round pick of the Atlanta Beat in the 2010 WPS Draft.
“I'm very excited to get a chance to further my soccer career with the Boston Breakers,” Mercado said. “This is an amazing opportunity, and I am very blessed to get the opportunity to represent Oklahoma State at the next level.”
A native of Sapulpa, Okla., Mercado capped her OSU career with a standout senior season as she was named an NSCAA First-Team All-American and was the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight year. She also earned a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team for the third year in a row.
Mercado started all 26 games at center back in 2011 and led the Cowgirls with over 2,300 minutes played. OSU led the NCAA in goals-against average at 0.337, allowing just nine goals in 26 games, and ranked third in shutout percentage (0.692) as the Cowgirls turned in a nation's best 18 shutouts.
Mercado set an OSU record by starting 98 games in her career, and the Cowgirls recorded 52 shutouts in those contests.
The 2012 WPS Draft included 23 picks by the five WPS teams over four rounds.
