The 2010 WPS Draft countdown continues with the media experts ranking the top defenders coming out of college and available for the WPS Draft on January 15, 2010 at the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, PA.

For the second consecutive week, a Tarheel from the University of North Carolina was the top prospect at an individual position with Whitney Engen (Rolling Hills Estates, CA) selected as the best defender available in the upcoming draft on five of six ballots submitted by the panel; Engen’s UNC teammate Ashlyn Harris was voted as the top goalkeeper prospect last week. Engen helped lead her team to the 2009 NCAA College Cup title and was named the 2010 Honda Sports Award-winner for soccer.

Hear Engen talk about taking the next step in WPS >>

Among other defenders, Connecticut’s Brittany Taylor (Campbell Hall, NY) was listed on five of the six ballots and received one first-place vote among them. Other top prospects based on media voting include Stanford’s Ali Riley (Pacific Palisades, CA) and Santa Clara’s Jordan Angeli (Lakewood, CO).

Top Prospects for the 2010 WPS Draft - Defenders

Charles Cuttone, Soccer News Net
1. Brittany Taylor, D, Connecticut
2. Whitney Engen, D, North Carolina
3. Andrea Willis, D, Brigham Young
4. Kelly Henderson, D, Boston College
5. Danielle Mutters, D, Illinois State
Others to Watch: Ali Riley, D, Stanford

Scott French, The Soccer Magazine
1. Whitney Engen, D, North Carolina
2. Lauren Wilmoth, D, UCLA
3. Brittany Taylor, D, Connecticut
4. Meagan Holmes, D, USC
5. Jordan Angeli, D, Santa Clara
Others to Watch: Ali Riley, Stanford, Kaley Fountain, Wake Forest. Blakely Mattern, South Carolina. Vaila Barsley, St. John's, Lauren Hyde, Florida, Kristi Eveland, North Carolina

Graham Hays, ESPN.com
1. Whitney Engen, North Carolina
2. Brittany Taylor, Connecticut
3. Blakely Mattern, South Carolina
4. Jordan Angeli, Santa Clara
5. Kaley Fountain, Wake Forest

Paul Kennedy, Soccer America
1. Whitney Engen, D, North Carolina
2. Brittany Taylor, D, Connecticut
3. Ali Riley, D, Stanford
4. Kaley Fountain, D, Wake Forest
5. Lauren Wilmoth, D, UCLA

Dan Lauletta, Womensprosoccer.com
1. Whitney Engen, D, North Carolina
2. Kelly Henderson, D, Boston College
3. Nikki Marshall, D, Colorado
4. Kristi Eveland, D, North Carolina
5. Ali Riley, D, Stanford
Others to Watch: Blakely Mattern, D, South Carolina; Brittany Taylor, D, Connecticut

Mark Rogondino, Fox Soccer Channel
1. Whitney Engen, D, North Carolina
2. Ali Riley, D, Stanford
3. Jordan Angeli, Santa Clara
4. Andrea Willis, D, Brigham Young
5. Dea Cook, D, UCLA

About 2010 WPS Draft
The 2010 WPS Draft is January 15, 2010 at the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, PA. The draft is scheduled for seven rounds with the two expansion teams each being given an additional selection at the end of Round One. Interested players must declare their interest in the draft by Monday, January 4 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT by registering online at: www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/players/interested-player.aspx.

View more details on the 2010 WPS Draft.