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Cosme, Nabet Selected in NWSL Draft
12/18/2021 8:50:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM – Duke graduate students Caitlin Cosme and Lily Nabet were each selected in the 2022 NWSL Draft on Saturday, marking the seventh consecutive season in which at least one Blue Devil was drafted.
Cosme was selected 10th overall by the Orlando Pride, becoming the fourth player in Duke program history to be taken in the first round. Nabet was chosen in the third round, 36th overall, by Angel City FC, which is one of the league's two expansion teams that will begin play in 2022.
With two selections on Saturday, the Blue Devils have now seen 17 former players drafted into the NWSL, including 14 since Robbie Church took over as head coach in 2001.
"I could not be more proud of both of them," said Church. "Over the years, they have just worked so hard. Both of them came in and didn't play a lot the first couple of years, and as we went forward they were not to be denied. They continued to work hard, they continued to take accountability and responsibility. The last three years, they have played a huge role in our program. I could not be happier for anybody on a day like this. Speaking with both of them, they were so extremely happy. It's a great moment for them and it's a great moment for our program. They are two who do it the right way and we're very proud of them."
After appearing in just eight matches over her first two seasons at Duke, Cosme established herself as one of the top center backs in the ACC from 2019-21. The New Hyde Park, N.Y., native started 59 of her final 62 matches and scored 10 goals with one assist for 21 points. As a senior and team captain in 2020-21, she led all ACC defenders and tied for the team lead with six goals while being named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team. Cosme netted three goals this past fall, with each occurring on free kicks outside the box and two being game-winners late in the second half. The first of which was a remarkable shot off the crossbar and in against No. 10 Stanford on Sept. 2, while the second came with just 16 seconds remaining versus Old Dominion in the NCAA Championship to lift Duke to an opening round victory.
Defensively, Cosme anchored a back line that allowed just 12 goals this season – the fewest in the ACC and eight-fewest nationally. She eclipsed 1,800 minutes played in each of the past three seasons, leading the Blue Devils in 2021 with 1,829.
Nabet started six out of 26 matches in her first two years, before playing in 60 games with 49 starts as a junior, senior and grad student. A native of Los Angeles, Calif., she served as one of Duke's most consistent players this season while slotted as a defensive midfielder. Nabet's lone goal of the season was the game-winner in Duke's 2-0 victory over Syracuse on Oct. 2, while she logged 60+ minutes in wins over No. 10 Stanford, No. 2 North Carolina, No. 15 Notre Dame and No. 1 Florida State.
After missing two matches early in the 2020-21 season due to an injury, the team captain returned to play in each of the team's final 18 contests. For her career, she registered two goals and six assists for 10 points.
Cosme and Nabet join fellow graduate student Tess Boade as NWSL draftees. Boade was taken in the fourth round, 40th overall, by NJ/NY Gotham FC in the 2021 NWSL Draft.
Duke was one of 10 programs – including one of two in the ACC, joining Wake Forest – with multiple student-athletes selected in the 50-player draft.
For more information on Duke women's soccer, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching 'DukeWSOC.'
#GoDuke
Cosme was selected 10th overall by the Orlando Pride, becoming the fourth player in Duke program history to be taken in the first round. Nabet was chosen in the third round, 36th overall, by Angel City FC, which is one of the league's two expansion teams that will begin play in 2022.
With two selections on Saturday, the Blue Devils have now seen 17 former players drafted into the NWSL, including 14 since Robbie Church took over as head coach in 2001.
"I could not be more proud of both of them," said Church. "Over the years, they have just worked so hard. Both of them came in and didn't play a lot the first couple of years, and as we went forward they were not to be denied. They continued to work hard, they continued to take accountability and responsibility. The last three years, they have played a huge role in our program. I could not be happier for anybody on a day like this. Speaking with both of them, they were so extremely happy. It's a great moment for them and it's a great moment for our program. They are two who do it the right way and we're very proud of them."
After appearing in just eight matches over her first two seasons at Duke, Cosme established herself as one of the top center backs in the ACC from 2019-21. The New Hyde Park, N.Y., native started 59 of her final 62 matches and scored 10 goals with one assist for 21 points. As a senior and team captain in 2020-21, she led all ACC defenders and tied for the team lead with six goals while being named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team. Cosme netted three goals this past fall, with each occurring on free kicks outside the box and two being game-winners late in the second half. The first of which was a remarkable shot off the crossbar and in against No. 10 Stanford on Sept. 2, while the second came with just 16 seconds remaining versus Old Dominion in the NCAA Championship to lift Duke to an opening round victory.
Defensively, Cosme anchored a back line that allowed just 12 goals this season – the fewest in the ACC and eight-fewest nationally. She eclipsed 1,800 minutes played in each of the past three seasons, leading the Blue Devils in 2021 with 1,829.
Nabet started six out of 26 matches in her first two years, before playing in 60 games with 49 starts as a junior, senior and grad student. A native of Los Angeles, Calif., she served as one of Duke's most consistent players this season while slotted as a defensive midfielder. Nabet's lone goal of the season was the game-winner in Duke's 2-0 victory over Syracuse on Oct. 2, while she logged 60+ minutes in wins over No. 10 Stanford, No. 2 North Carolina, No. 15 Notre Dame and No. 1 Florida State.
After missing two matches early in the 2020-21 season due to an injury, the team captain returned to play in each of the team's final 18 contests. For her career, she registered two goals and six assists for 10 points.
Cosme and Nabet join fellow graduate student Tess Boade as NWSL draftees. Boade was taken in the fourth round, 40th overall, by NJ/NY Gotham FC in the 2021 NWSL Draft.
Duke was one of 10 programs – including one of two in the ACC, joining Wake Forest – with multiple student-athletes selected in the 50-player draft.
For more information on Duke women's soccer, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching 'DukeWSOC.'
#GoDuke
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