Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Trio In NWSL Camp
March 08, 2013 | Cowgirl Soccer
March 8, 2013
STILLWATER, Okla. – Three former Oklahoma State Cowgirls — Adrianna “AD” Franch, Melinda Mercado and Carson Michalowski — are participating in the Western New York Flash Player Combine, which began today. The WNY Flash is one of eight teams in the new National Women's Soccer League, which was created last November and begins play in April.
Franch and Mercado have signed contracts with the club, while Michalowski was invited to the camp for a chance to earn a roster spot. Franch was selected by the Flash with the sixth overall pick of the NWSL College Draft in January, while Mercado recently signed as a free agent.
“We're very excited and proud of AD, Melinda and Carson that they get to represent our program at the highest level of women's soccer,” said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael. “We're really excited to get a chance to see them play as professional athletes, and we wish them nothing but the best. All three players are really excited about the opportunity and the chance to compete against some of the best players in the world. They had great careers for us, and they've worked extremely hard to be in this position and I expect them to continue to be successful.”
A three-time All-American goalkeeper at OSU, Franch capped her record-setting career in 2012, starting all 20 games for the Cowgirls and recording six shutouts, 79 saves and a 1.07 goals against average. She was named to the All-Big 12 Conference First Team for the fourth time, becoming only the seventh player in Big 12 history to achieve that distinction.
One of the most decorated players in Big 12 and OSU soccer history, Franch owns the OSU career record for shutouts with 38 and led the Big 12 in that category in three of her four seasons. She finished her career with 325 saves to rank second on OSU's all-time list. Franch's 38 shutouts rank sixth all time in NCAA history, and her 8,064:02 minutes in goal rank ninth on the NCAA list.
Mercado finished her OSU career in 2011, and in 2012 was the 16th overall pick (third round) by the Boston Breakers of the now defunct Women's Professional Soccer League.
A defender from Sapulpa, Okla., Mercado was a two-time All-American and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year while also earning All-Big 12 First Team honors three times. She set an OSU record by starting 98 games in her career, and the Cowgirls recorded 52 shutouts in those contests.
As a senior in 2011, Mercado led the Cowgirls with over 2,300 minutes played. That season 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.
Michalowski completed her OSU career in 2012. A three-time NSCAA All-Central Region and All-Big 12 performer, she anchored some of the top defenses in school history from her center back spot as she started 92 games in her career, and OSU recorded 48 shutouts in those games. Michalowski helped the Cowgirls post six shutouts and a 1.11 goals against average in 2012, and she also notched a pair of goals.
