MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – For the first time in program history, two members of the West Virginia University women's soccer program were selected in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) College Draft, as Michaela Abam and Amandine Pierre-Louis were drafted with the No. 4 and No. 6 overall picks by Sky Blue FC this morning at the Philadelphia Convention Center.
 
Abam, a forward, is the highest-drafted Mountaineer in program history. A defender, Pierre-Louis ranks No. 2. Since the first draft in 2014, three WVU women's soccer players have been selected: Frances Silva (2014), Abam and Pierre-Louis.
 
In her 22 years at the helm of the Mountaineer women's soccer program, coach Nikki Izzo-Brown has coached 19 players who have gone on to play professional soccer.
 
"I am incredibly proud of these two Mountaineers," Izzo-Brown said. "To go No. 4 and No. 6 in the NWSL College Draft is a huge honor and a testament to their hard work and dedication to the game.
 
"Sky Blue FC – you couldn't ask for a better duo! These two teammates and roommates are ready to start their professional careers together."
 
A three-time All-America, Abam, a Houston native, ranks No. 3 all-time in the Mountaineer program with 42 career goals and No. 4 with 100 points (42 G, 16 A). She is the most experienced player in program history, having earned time in 95 career matches. Abam capped her four-year career with 79 starts.
 
For the fourth straight year, Abam led the Mountaineer offense, finishing the 2017 season with 23 points on 10 goals and three assists; she finished with double-digit goal totals in each season but her first. The 10 goals ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 Conference, while the 23 points ranked No. 2.  Four of her goals were game-winners, the 53rd-best total nationally.
 
Abam earned her third All-Big 12 First Team honor this season. She also was named to the All-Big 12 Championship Team and the Academic All-Big 12 Second Team. Additionally, Abam was tabbed the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 10.
 
A native of Montreal, Quebec, and a 2017 United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team honoree, Pierre-Louis was the 2017 Big 12 Conference co-Defensive Player of the Year. She led the Mountaineer defense to 13 shutouts this season, and the unit allowed just 16 goals and 60 corner kicks. Pierre-Louis ranked No. 2 on the team with five goals and No. 5 with 11 points (5 G, 1 A). She finished her Mountaineer career ranked No. 3 in program history, playing in 92 matches.
 
A two-time All-Big 12 First Team honoree, Pierre-Louis also was named to the All-Big 12 Championship Team this year.
 
In their four seasons with the Mountaineers, the duo helped WVU compile a 74-11-10 record. WVU earned four straight bids to the NCAA Tournament and finished as the 2016 NCAA National Runner-Up. The team reached the NCAA Third Round three times and the NCAA Quarterfinals twice. The Mountaineers claimed five Big 12 Conference titles and were ranked No. 1 nationally for nine total weeks.