Isom picked 14th, Gomes taken 23rd in NWSL College Draft

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Taylor Isom and Nadia Gomes were selected in the 2018 National Women's Soccer League College Draft on Thursday morning.

Isom was picked 14th overall and joins the Utah Royals FC as the first player to be drafted by the team entering into its first season. Gomes was taken by the Orlando Pride as the 23rd overall pick.

Both players were seniors on the 2017 squad and played significant minutes in all 19 games of the season.

After taking two redshirt years due to injuries, Isom stepped in and anchored a strong BYU defense in her four years as a Cougar. In her career, she played 7,311 minutes and started in every contest she played in. She recorded two goals and one assist, while tallying 20 shots. As a senior in 2017, Isom was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watchlist in preseason and was First Team All-West Coast Conference. 

Gomes recorded five goals and four assists in 2017. In her career she tallied 23 goals and 23 assists, while taking 217 total shots as she climbed her way into the BYU record book. She was WCC Player of the Year in 2015 and earned All-WCC Honorable Mention in 2017.

In 2016, BYU also had two players drafted to the NWSL. Ashley Hatch was the second overall pick by NC Courage and Michele Vasconcelos was the 11th overall pick by the Chicago Red Stars. In 2013, Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall was picked fourth overall by Sky Blue FC and Cloee Colohan was taken 14th overall by the Western New York Flash in 2014.

Isom and Gomes will report on Feb. 19 for preseason training camps and the 2018 regular season will begin the weekend of Mar. 24-25.