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After leading her Stanford team through an undefeated regular season, Kelley O’Hara earned her first call-up into the full National Team in December.

 

As part of a series of interviews with potential 2010 WPS Draft picks, Women’s Professional Soccer caught-up with PAC-10 Player of the Year, Kelley O’Hara. After leading her Stanford team through an undefeated regular season, O’Hara earned a call-up into the full National Team in December. O’Hara posted 26 goals and 13 assists in her senior season, and hopes to get faster and stronger to increase her scoring potential in WPS.
 
WPS: You won PAC-10 Player of the Year honors and have certainly risen into the spotlight as a top prospect for the 2010 WPS Draft. What do you hope your Year One impact in WPS will be?
 
O’Hara: In my first year I will be looking to improve my game. Also, I’m hoping to be able to make a quick transition to the level of play of the WPS as it will be faster and more competitive than college. In general, I am just looking forward to playing with and against the best players in the world week in and week out. You can’t help but enjoy that kind of environment, even though I know there will be ups and downs.
 
WPS: Stanford went undefeated in the 2009 regular season, but just fell short in the NCAA Championship to UNC. What expectations do you hold for your future in WPS, possibly a championship trophy at the professional level?
 
O’Hara: Obviously it would be amazing to win a championship trophy at the professional level and it’s something I hope to accomplish one day. For me, I like to take things a day at a time and focus on improving. Hopefully that kind of mindset will one day lead to a championship.
 
WPS: You have gone up the youth National Team ladder for many years, earning your first senior team call-up in 2007. What are your goals at the full National Team level?
 
O’Hara: It’s always been a dream of mine to play in a World Cup or Olympics, so that is the end goal. But right now I am just looking to hopefully show well and continue to be called in with the full team. It has been amazing to play with these players and I just hope that I will have more chances to do that. I am learning a lot and the veterans are making me a better player.
 
WPS: How does it feel to know you have the chance to continue your soccer career at the professional level in WPS, an opportunity several female players in the past have not had?
 
O’Hara: I am excited and very thankful to have this opportunity because I know it’s a special one. I’m looking forward to playing at a high level, even after college, and I can’t wait to face the best competition in the WPS.

WPS: Any ideas as to where and when you might go in the draft process?
 
O’Hara: I don't really have a clue where I will go. Regardless of who takes me or when, I am just excited to have the opportunity to be drafted.

WPS: You rank as one of the best players in the college game. What aspects of your game do you think need the most improvement to excel in WPS and at the full National Team level?
 
O’Hara: I think there is always room for improvement and growth in all areas. In the coming months, in preparation for the WPS, I will look to improve my technique and hopefully get faster and stronger.
 
WPS: Looking ahead to the 2010 WPS season, which players coming out of your college class do you think will have the most success at the professional level?
 
O’Hara: I am really excited to see what some of the new upcoming players will add to the league. There are definitely some amazingly talented soccer players in the 2010 class and I think a lot of them will have an impact on the league.

The 2010 WPS Draft takes place on Friday, January 15 at the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia.  Follow WPS’s Twitter, @womensprosoccer, for all of the latest draft news including full draft-day coverage.