Following the success of their careers at LSU, two former soccer standouts will be given the opportunity to continue their playing days at the highest professional level in the country. Former Tiger midfielders Malorie Rutledge and Melissa Clarke were selected in Friday’s Women’s Professional Soccer draft. ‘We’re very proud of both Malorie and Melissa for the opportunity they have been given to continue their development at the professional level as part of the WPS,’ said LSU coach Brian Lee in a news release. ‘They are beginning to reap the rewards of all the hard work they’ve put into improving in our program over the last four or five years.’ During the draft, 65 players were selected throughout seven rounds by the league’s nine teams. Rutledge was selected No. 13 overall by the Philadelphia Independence. It was the organization’s first-ever draft pick, and made her the highest-drafted player from the Southeastern Conference in the WPS’ short history. Rutledge, who is in California training with the Under-23 United States Women’s National Team, said she was informed of her draft selection via Twitter. ‘I was actually sitting in the lobby all by myself when I found out on Twitter that Philadelphia took me,’ Rutledge said in a news release. ‘After that, I got a call from [Independence] coach [Paul] Riley and the general manager congratulating me. I was just in shock.’ During her four seasons at LSU, the Sharpsburg, Ga., native racked up a bevy of accolades including two SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and was named to multiple All-American teams. Rutledge finished her senior season leading the Tigers in both goals and assists with 13 and 12, respectively. Clarke was selected as the No. 29 overall pick by defending WPS Champion Sky Blue F.C. – a team based in Piscataway Township, N.J. She was the team’s third selection in the draft. ‘I followed the first couple of draft picks, and then I left to go do something, and by the time I was finished, I got a call saying I was drafted,’ Clarke said. ‘I had high hopes for getting drafted, but I had no idea possibly when in the draft I’d be drafted or what time.’ Clarke was also praised for her accomplishments on the pitch while she was playing for LSU. In her senior season, she was a second-team All-SEC selection, she was named to the SEC All-Tournament Team and was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-South Region First-Team. She finished the season No. 2 at LSU in goals with 12 and dished out five assists. Clarke says she is ‘stoked’ about the opportunity to continue her soccer career because she recognizes how few people get to play professionally. ‘Coming through club soccer when you start out, everyone plays,’ she said. ‘Not everyone can go on to the next level, which is college, and then only a few girls get to move on to the next level. It’s definitely a great thing to know you’re being rewarded for your work.’ There is no guaranteed contract to those selected in the draft, and teams will be holding training camps in the coming months to evaluate talent before the season begins in April. ‘I still have my work cut out for me, but I’m excited,’ Clarke said. — Contact Johanathan Brooks at [email protected]