It’s official: The Orlando Pride signed their highest-ever draft pick, midfielder Taylor Kornieck, the team announced on Feb. 11. Kornieck is on a one-year deal with an option for an additional year.
The Pride drafted Kornieck with the third-overall pick in the 2020 National Women’s Soccer League College Draft after a draft-day trade that sent forward Rachel Hill to the Chicago Red Stars elevated Orlando on the draft board.
“We are very happy to come to terms with Taylor before the start of the season,” Pride General Manager Erik Ustruck said, per the official release. “Taylor is obviously a player we rate very highly, having traded up to get her in this year’s draft, and we are optimistic about the new dimension she will bring to the Pride midfield.
“We’re excited to sign a young, dynamic player like Taylor that has the ability to instantly contribute to building the future of our club.”
In four seasons at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Kornieck started all 82 games she played and scored 39 goals. She was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons and became just the second-ever Buffalo to earn All-America honors twice.
Internationally, Kornieck, 21, has played for the United States’ U-18, U-19 and U-20 squads. She was the team captain for the U-18 side and subsequently scored her first national-team goal with the U-19s in July 2017.
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The Pride made room in their midfield by trading away 2016 draftee Dani Weatherholt to Reign FC. Weatherholt started 60 of her 74 appearances for the Pride from 2016 to 2019 and even captained Orlando in five consecutive matches last year.
For more on the Pride, as they look to integrate their newcomers ahead of the 2020 season, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
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