CARY, NC (December 18, 2021) – The North Carolina Courage participated in their sixth NWSL Draft tonight, selecting Emily Gray, Diana Ordoñez, Kaitlin Fregulia, Haleigh Stackpole, and Marisa Bova ahead of the 2022 season.
Emily Grey, Midfielder, Virginia Tech
Round 1, Pick 3
Gray, a midfielder from Virginia Tech, was selected third overall in the first round of the NWSL Draft. In her senior year, the Sewell, NJ native was one of three players to appear in each of Virginia Tech’s 17 matches, leading the team with 26 points, nine goals, and eight assists. She also broke the single-game school record for assists with four and was subsequently named to the All-ACC Third Team, the United Soccer Coaches Association All-Atlantic Region Second Team, and the All-ACC Academic Team.
“I am super excited about this opportunity with the Courage,” Gray said. “They have such an impressive history in the league and I can’t wait to get started. I know many are saying the Courage are rebuilding this year but I am ready to work and hope we can get after it from the start!”
“Emily was someone we wanted immediately,” Head Coach Sean Nahas said. “She is a tidy footballer with a great soccer IQ and dynamic thinking in the final third. She is good on the ball and likes to attack players and look for the final ball, and has improved on her scoring quality as well, which has made her a player that becomes a lot more dangerous in how she is defended. We are really happy to secure Emily to our Courage family.”
Diana Ordoñez, Forward, University of Virginia
Round 1, Pick 6
With their sixth overall pick in the first round, the Courage selected Ordoñez, a forward from the University of Virginia. A Prosper, TX native, Ordoñez scored 45 goals, 15 of those being game-winners, and tallied 102 points for the Cavaliers. In her freshman and junior year, Ordoñez led the ACC in goals. Indicative of her talents, the forward was named a 2021 MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, a 2021 All-American by United Soccer Coaches, and was thrice named to the ACC Championship All-Tournament Team.
“I’m just very grateful to the coaches for picking me and giving me the opportunity to start my pro career,” said Ordoñez. “I think where I want to contribute is just scoring goals! I think the greatest thing about joining a league like this is the people who came before us and paved the way for players like me. I’m so excited to learn, I know this is going to be a huge opportunity for growth. I just want to soak in as much as I can!”
“Having the ability to select Diana with the sixth pick was important for us,” said Nahas. “Her career at UVA was spectacular. Her efficiency in the final third has been proven and something that will be developed even more at this level. She is very good with the ball at her feet, is composed, good with her back to goal, and can stretch backlines as well. We look forward to having Diana with us and watch her develop in our environment and club.”
Kaitlin Fregulia, Defender, Long Beach State University
Round 1, Pick 12
Closing out the first round with their twelfth overall pick, the Courage selected Fregulia from Long Beach State University. A tenacious centerback with a plethora of accolades, the Torrance, CA native captained the Beach in her senior season, appearing in all 18 of their regular-season matches. That year, she helped the team to five shutouts and was named the 2021 Big West Co-Defensive Player of the Year, also earning a spot on the 2021 Big West All-Conference First Team and on the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team.
“I am so grateful for this opportunity with the Courage,” said Fregulia. “What an outstanding club with so much history in the NWSL. I’m beyond stoked to learn from all the amazing players and from the coaches. I honestly don’t even have words. This has been my dream since I was a child. I’m so blessed to have this opportunity and I cannot thank NC enough for believing in me.”
“We felt it was important to find a balance to what we wanted from the draft and adding depth to our back line was important,” Nahas said. “Fregulia is good technically and has a great ability to build out of the back. She’s very composed and has a good range of passing that can help eliminate opposition numbers. Bringing her in to train next to Abby, Kaliegh, and Malia is something that will only help her in her development process. I’m really looking forward to having her here in NC”
Haleigh Stackpole, Midfielder, University of Mississippi
Round 3, Pick 29
In a trade with Orlando, the Courage dealt Deanne Rose’s playing rights to the Pride in exchange for the 29th pick in the second round of the draft. With the pick, the Courage selected Stackpole, a midfielder from the University of Mississippi and product of the NC Courage Academy. The 21-year-old earned Second Team All-SEC honors during her senior year, starting all 21 matches, scoring five goals and ranking third in the nation with 16 assists on the season. She was also named to the 2021 United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Second Team.
“When my name was called to NC Courage, my family and I were so ecstatic,” Stackpole said. “It’s a dream come true, I’ve been imagining this since I was 6 years old and I am so glad I was able to celebrate this day with my family. I am so excited to go back to the program that has played such a big part in shaping the player I have become today. I can’t wait to get back home to play under Sean Nahas again and learn what it takes to be a pro. It’s an honor to be chosen by NC Courage.”
“It is incredibly special to be able to bring Haleigh back home to NC,” Nahas said. “Having seen her journey over the years and watched her career with our academy, it is great to have her now with the full team. She is a versatile player with a great engine and ability on the ball. She’s a very good passer and is always threatening opposition back lines. We look forward to having Haleigh here with us as she begins her professional career.”
Marisa Bova, Goalkeeper, Purdue University
Round 4, Pick 45
With their final pick of the draft, the Courage selected Marisa Bova, a goalkeeper from Purdue University. Bova set several records for the Boilermakers, captaining the team and making 113 saves during the 2021 season and becoming the first goalkeeper to make more than 100 saves in a single season. The Hartland, WI native averaged .91 goals against and a .807 career save percentage, collecting 21 shutouts through four seasons. She was also named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and the Academic All-Big Ten.
“I feel so grateful and excited for this opportunity,” Bova said. “I know I will be surrounded by some of the best players, and I look forward to learning from them to become the best player that I can be!”
“I’m delighted to welcome Marisa Bova to the club,” Goalkeeper Coach Nathan Thackeray said. “She’s a fantastic goalkeeper with so much potential to enhance her game. Having spent time with her during our goalkeeper combine, I quickly knew that she would be a perfect fit for us. She is supremely talented with a work ethic to match, and I have no doubt that Marisa will develop into a top goalkeeper when added to our training environment. I’m excited for her and her family, and can’t wait to start working with her.”
