The 2010 WPS Draft Countdown continues with the media experts ranking the top college seniors at forward in advance of the 2010 WPS Draft on January 15 at the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, PA.

For the first time in the draft countdown series, a player from a school other than the University of North Carolina is the consensus selection as the top prospect at their position. UCLA’s Lauren Cheney (Indianapolis, IN), who captured a gold medal with the U.S. team at the Beijing Olympics and helped lead UCLA to the 2008 and 2009 NCAA College Cup semifinals, was voted as the top prospect at forward by four of the media experts. Stanford’s Kelley O’Hara (Fayetteville, GA) also received first-place votes, while UNC’s Casey Nogueira (Raleigh, NC) and Portland’s Michelle Enyeart (Hemet, CA) received several mentions each from the media panel.

The 2010 WPS Draft begins at 10am on Friday, January 15. The draft is scheduled for seven rounds for each team with the two expansion teams receiving an additional pick each at the end of Round One. For more information, go to: http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/schedule/2010-wps-draft.aspx

Top Senior Prospects for the 2010 WPS Draft - Forwards
Charles Cuttone, Soccer News Net
1. Lauren Cheney, UCLA
2. Casey Nogueira, North Carolina
3. Jill Hutchinson Wake Forest University
4. Kelley O’Hara, Stanford
5. Michelle Enyeart, Portland
Others to watch: Whitney Weinraub, Charlotte; Katie Schoepfer, Penn State; Jessica Fucello, Penn State

Scott French, The Soccer Magazine
1. Lauren Cheney, UCLA
2. Kelley O'Hara, Stanford
3. Casey Nogueira, UNC
4. Katie Schoepfer, Penn State
5. Gina DiMartino, Boston College
Others to watch: Kiki Bosio, Santa Clara

Graham Hays, ESPN.com
1. Lauren Cheney, UCLA
2. Kelley O’Hara, Stanford
3. Casey Nogueira, North Carolina
4. Michelle Enyeart, Portland
5. Jill Hutchinson, Wake Forest

Paul Kennedy, Soccer America
1. Lauren Cheney, UCLA
2. Kelley O'Hara, Stanford
3. Casey Nogueira, North Carolina
4. Michelle Enyeart, Portland
5. Gina DiMartino, Boston College

Dan Lauletta, Womensprosoccer.com
1. Kelley O’Hara, Stanford
2. Lauren Cheney, UCLA
3. Casey Nogueira, North Carolina
4. Katie Schoepfer, Penn State
5. Becky Edwards, Florida State
Others to watch:  Michelle Enyeart, Portland; Gina DiMartino, Boston College; Jessica Fuccello, Penn State; Kiersten Dallstream, Washington State

Mark Rogondino, Fox Soccer Channel
1. Kelley O'Hara, Stanford
2. Lauren Cheney, UCLA
3. Casey Nogueira, North Carolina
4. Kiersten Dallstream, Washington St.
5. Nikki Washington, North Carolina