Hard work always pays off. After helping the Washington Spirit keep in the 2015 NWSL playoff race goalkeeper Kelsey Wys was rewarded on Monday with a new contract from the club. As per league policy exact terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.
Wys, 24, was an integral part of the Spirit’s 2015 run towards the NWSL Eastern Conference Finals. After being acquired in a midseason trade with the Western New York Flash, Wys was thrown into the starter’s role after incumbent Ashlyn Harris was selected for the United States Women’s National Team. Harris missed a large portion of the 2015 season due to the 2015 Women’s World Cup which took place alongside the 2015 National Women’s Soccer League season.
Despite a limited amount of time to adjust to her new team, Wys compiled a 5-4-2 record during her time as a starter. She finished in the top ten in the NWSL in saves (32-tenth), shutouts (3-sixth), and minutes in goal (990-eighth). Her time as starter included a 0-0 draw on the road against eventual champions FC Kansas City and a come from behind 2-1 win at home against the Portland Thorns.
She was originally selected by the Flash in the second round of the 2014 NWSL draft out of Florida State. She had a very successful career with the Seminoles, setting 17 records with the school and serving as the team’s starter during their College Cup runs in 2012 and 2013.
While Wys filled in for Harris during the 2015 campaign she comes into the 2016 campaign as the leading candidate for the starting position. Harris was selected by the Orlando Pride during the 2015 Expansion Draft. Her exit leaves Wys as the lone goalkeeper on the Spirit’s roster with any professional experience. The team will likely try and sign an additional goalkeeper during the offseason.
In addition to the Wys signing the team also announced last week that they had acquired two second round picks (numbers 12 and 20) in the NWSL College Draft from the Boston Breakers. In exchange, the Breakers received midfielder Angela Salem. Salem made 16 appearances with the Spirit during the 2015 season.
With the two picks from the Breakers the Spirit now hold five picks in the draft, including the seventh overall pick in the first round. The draft will be held on January the 15th at the Baltimore Convention Center as part of the NSCAA College Coaches Convention.
