Feb. 11, 2002
LAS VEGAS - UNLV senior goalkeeper Alice Gleason was drafted 24th in the 2002 Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) Draft held Monday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Gleason, a native of Park Ridge, Ill., just outside of Chicago was drafted in the third round by the San Jose CyberRays, the WUSA's historic inaugural champion in 2001. This past season, Gleason played and started in 18 games for the Rebels logging in a total of 1,757 minutes between the posts. She collected 102 saves and earned five shutouts, helping the Rebels to their best season in school history.
Prior to UNLV, Gleason spent three seasons as a starting goalie at Santa Clara University making two NCAA Final Four appearances in 1998 and 1999. For her overall collegiate career, Gleason recorded 18 wins and a 1.05 GAA. She becomes the first Rebel women's soccer player to be drafted into the world's premier women's professional soccer league.
"Alice's accomplishment is a great sign of where we have come as a program," UNLV coach Dan Abdalla said. "It is a huge stepping stone for us, to get one of our players to that level."
The women's soccer program at UNLV was incepted back in 1998. Gleason will join an all-star cast of players already with the CyberRays, including defender Brandi Chastain, who scored the game-winning penalty kick for the United States against China in the 1999 Women's World Cup Championship final. The eight-team league begins regular season play on April 13.
"LAS VEGAS SOCCER SPECTACULAR" AHEAD ...
A preseason WUSA exhibition match between the San Jose CyberRays and the San Diego Spirit will be held on Saturday, March 23 at 7 p.m. and will benefit the UNLV Women's Sports Foundation. The game, which features U.S. Olympians and World Cup Champions, will be played at the Cimarron Memorial High School football stadium, located at Lake Mead and Tenaya. General admission tickets are $15 each. The UNLV Women's Sports Foundation is committed to assisting female student-athletes throughout their collegiate endeavors. The organization also raises funds for fifth-year scholarships and for the enhancement of women's athletic programs at UNLV. For more information on tickets, please call 702-895-1943.
