Stony Brook’s Kylie Ohlmiller and Boston College’s Kenzie Kent took the college lacrosse world by storm in 2017, setting records en route to historic seasons for both programs. Ohlmiller set the Division I record with 164 points and Kent tied the NCAA final record with 10 points.
Two of college lacrosse’s brightest stars, Ohlmiller and Kent may be suiting up together in the near future. Ohlmiller was selected by the Boston Storm on Wednesday night with the first overall pick in the 2018 UWLX College Draft — followed two picks later by Kent, who also joined the Storm.
The talent coming off the board was impressive, and enough to generate excitement among the assortment of general managers and team coaches that oversaw the College Draft.
“When you look at the level of talent coming out of college, it definitely speaks to an even higher level of play moving forward for the UWLX," Boston Storm General Manager Andrew Fink.said. "You can expect the league’s four teams to build really strong rosters for 2018. We are certainly looking forward to it.”
The leaders of the UWLX are hoping to continue to grow the women's game ahead of the third season of the league, which partnered with 3d Lacrosse, allowing it to take over operations.
“There are a lot of incredible players competing in the college ranks and we’re thrilled to give them the opportunity to play the game they love at the professional level," Kristan Ash, UWLX general manager and senior manager of 3d Lacrosse’s Mid-Atlantic region, said. "We have a lot to offer them both on and off the field and we know it can help grow the game and opportunities in the sport."
The Ohlmiller-Kent duo highlighted the UWLX College Draft first round which also included Oregon goalie Brittany Read, who went second overall to the Philadelphia Force. Read joined Oregon this offseason after transferring from Louisville.
Rounding out the first round was Northwestern attacker Shelby Fredericks, who went to the Long Island Sound with pick No. 4.
North Carolina had three players selected in the second round, with Maggie Bill going at pick No. 5 to Long Island, Marie McCool, a member of the gold medal-winning 2017 U.S. women’s national team, heading back to Philadelphia and Ela Hazar going to Boston with the eighth overall pick.
The Baltimore Ride took Maryland’s Megan Whittle with the sixth overall pick. The first defender went off the board in the third round, when the Philadelphia Force selected Stony Brook’s Brooke Gibutosi with the 10th pick.
Syracuse’s Taylor Gait and Riley Donahue went back-to-back to start the fourth round, with Gait going to the Long Island Sound and Donahue heading to Boston. Gait is the daughter of UWLX commissioner and former Orange great Gary Gait.
Ohlmiller's Stony Brook teammate Courtney Murphy, who suffered a torn ACL last season, went 36th to the Long Island Sound.
Here is the full board for the 18-round UWLX College Draft.
Pick |
Team |
Player |
Position |
College |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Boston Storm | Kylie Ohlmiller | A | Stony Brook |
2. | Philadelphia Force | Brittany Read | G | Oregon |
3. | Boston Storm | Kenzie Kent | A | Boston College |
4. | Long Island Sound | Shelby Fredericks | A | Northwestern |
5. | Long Island Sound | Maggie Bill | M | North Carolina |
6. | Baltimore Ride | Megan Whittle | A | Maryland |
7. | Philadelphia Force | Marie McCool | M | North Carolina |
8. | Boston Storm | Ela Hazar | A/M | North Carolina |
9. | Baltimore Ride | Emily Kenul | A | Johns Hopkins |
10. | Philadelphia Force | Brooke Gubitosi | D | Stony Brook |
11. | Boston Sotrm | Sheila Nesselbush | M | Northwestern |
12. | Long Island Sound | Maddie Crutchfield | M | Duke |
13. | Long Island Sound | Taylor Gait | M | Syracuse |
14. | Boston Storm | Riley Donahue | A | Syracuse |
15. | Philadelphia Force | Erica Evans | M | Canisius |
16. | Baltimore Ride | Haley Warden | M | James Madison |
17. | Baltimore Ride | Ashtyn Hiron | M | Jacksonville |
18. | Philadelphia Force | Sam DiSalvo | M | Stony Brook |
19. | Boston Storm | Katie O'Donnell | M | Penn State |
20. | Long Island Sound | Kasey Behr | A | Virginia |
21. | Long Island Sound | Mia DiBello | D | Syracuse |
22. | Boston Storm | Shannon Fitzgerald | M | James Madison |
23. | Philadelphia Force | Elena Romesburg | M | James Madison |
24. | Baltimore Ride | Taylor Hensh | A | Maryland |
25. | Baltimore Ride | Emily Poelma | G | Jacksonville |
26.. | Philadelphia Force | Lindsay Darrell | D | Northwestern |
27. | Boston Storm | Holly Turner | A | UMass |
28. | Long Island Sound | Shayna Pirreca | M | Florida |
29. | Long Island Sound | Aniya Flanagan | D | Florida |
30. | Boston Storm | Emma Powlin | D | Albany |
31. | Philadelphia Force | Erica Perrotta | M | High Point |
32. | Baltimore Ride | Emily Rogers | A | Penn |
33. | Baltimore Ride | Emily Barton | D | Jacksonville |
34. | Philadelphia Force | Carolyn Carrera | D | Stony Brook |
35. | Boston Storm | Emily Howell | D | Louisville |
36. | Long Island Sound | Courtney Murphy | A | Stony Brook |
37. | Long Island Sound | Jill Zubillaga | D | Oregon |
38. | Boston Storm | Danita Stroup | A | Northwestern |
39. | Philadelphia Force | Maggie Gallagher | M | Penn State |
40. | Baltimore Ride | Kyra Harney | A | Duke |
41. | Baltimore Ride | Molly Cobb | M | Notre Dame |
42. | Philadelphia Force | Drew Shapiro | M | Hofstra |
43. | Boston Storm | Michele Scanell | M | Adelphi |
44. | Long Island Sound | Allie Pavinelli | M | Florida |
45. | Long Island Sound | Neena Merola | M | Syracuse |
46. | Boston Storm | Jen Reininger | M | Canisius |
47. | Philadelphia Force | Kelly Glatthorn | D | Virginia Tech |
48. | Baltimore Ride | Kaitlyn Montalbano | M | Towson |
49. | Baltimore Ride | Emily Gillingham | M | Towson |
50. | Philadelphia Force | Amanda Casten | D | Rutgers |
51. | Boston Storm | Kaileen Hart | A | Boston College |
52. | Long Island Sound | Marissa Davey | M | Virginia Tech |
53. | Long Island Sound | Emma Schurr | M | Boston College |
54. | Boston Storm | Kathy Rudkin | D | North Carolina |
55. | Philadelphia Force | Alie Jimerson | A | Syracuse |
56. | Baltimore Ride | Joey Coffy | M | Cornell |
57. | Baltimore Ride | Taylor Reed | M | Cornell |
58. | Philadelphia Force | Elena Schorr | D/M | Hofstra |
59. | Boston Storm | Pass | ||
60. | Long Island Sound | Tiffany Zullo | D/M | Stony Brook |
61. | Long Island Sound | Megan Conroy | G | St. Bonaventure |
62. | Boston Storm | Pass | ||
63. | Philadelphia Force | Pass | ||
64. | Baltimore Ride | Alex Condon | M | Penn |
65. | Baltimore Ride | Rachel Vander Kolk | G | Virginia |
66. | Philadelphia Force | Pass | ||
67. | Boston Storm | Pass | ||
68. | Long Island Sound | Pass | ||
69. | Long Island Sound | Pass | ||
70. | Boston Storm | Pass | ||
71. | Philadelphia Force | Pass | ||
72. | Baltimore Ride | Emma Schait | M | Stony Brook |