Chicago, Ill. – For the first time in program history, two Hofstra women's soccer stars were selected in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Draft presented by Ally. Lucy Shepherd was selected in the second round and 23rd overall by the Washington Spirit and Miri Taylor was drafted in the fourth round and 39th overall by Angel City FC.
 
Shepherd and Taylor's selections mark the third and fourth professional draft choices in program history for Hofstra, joining Sue Weber who was a third round pick of the Boston Breakers in the 2008 Women's Professional Soccer Draft and Leah Galton who was picked up by Sky Blue FC in the 2016 NWSL Draft.
 
Shepherd, a selection by the Washington Spirit, is a three-time All-CAA honoree, was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District® Team twice and is a two-time United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region pick. The native of Worcestershire, England is also a four-time CAA Champion, leading Hofstra to the crown in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021 while also making three NCAA Championship Second Round appearances.
 
Shepherd capped off her stellar five-year career in Hempstead scoring 25 goals and 25 assists for 75 points. Shepherd's 75 points rank 10th in program history while her 25 assists are sixth all-time. This past season, Shepherd racked up 12 assists, tying for the second-highest amount in a single-season at Hofstra. She also recorded 28 points for Hofstra this past season, the most of any season during her spectacular career, via eight goals and 12 assists.
 
 
Taylor joins Angel City FC, an NWSL expansion team, following a brilliant senior campaign for the Pride. A USC All-American and the CAA Attacking Player of the Year, Taylor was also one of 15 players on the women's side to be selected as a semifinalist for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, the highest individual award presented to a player in intercollegiate soccer. Taylor scored an incredible 42 points this season, marking a Hofstra single-season program record while also finishing second in the nation with 2.14 points per game. She also concluded her senior season with 17 goals and 11 assists and was one goal away from tying the Hofstra single-season program record.  
 
In addition to her single-season points record, Taylor became Hofstra's all-time assist leader earlier this season, and extended that record to 31 assists for her career. In all, Taylor capped her Hofstra career with 97 points and 33 goals, good for fourth and tied for sixth in program history, respectively. Taylor was a member of three CAA Championship teams (2018, 2019, 2021) and led the Pride to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in each of those three seasons.
 
 
The Washington Spirit and Angel City FC are one of 12 teams in the NWSL, which was established in 2012 and is the top league for women's players in the United States. Based in Chicago, the NWSL is supported by the Canadian Soccer Association and the United States Soccer Federation.