Three Virginia Cavaliers taken in NWSL Draft

Three members of the Virginia women’s soccer team were taken in the National Women’s Soccer League draft on Friday (Jan. 15) with seniors Emily Sonnett (Marietta, Ga.), Makenzy Doniak (Chino Hills, Calif.) and Brittany Ratcliffe (Williamstown, N.J.) all selected.

Sonnett was taken with the first pick of the draft, marking the second consecutive season for the Cavaliers to have the top pick and third straight year for the top pick to come from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Doniak was taken with the 11th overall pick and Ratcliffe was taken with the 17th pick.

Sonnett anchored a Cavalier back line that posted 15 shutouts, including 14 shutout victories on the season. Virginia allowed only 12 goals for a 0.50 goals against average and allowed only six shots per game by opponents. Sonnett was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy. She was also an All-ACC first team selection. She is also a candidate for the Honda Award.

Doniak was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year and paced the Virginia offense this season with 14 goals and 11 assists for a team-leading 39 points. She tied with Shaffer in goals scored on the season and led the team in assists. Doniak set the school record for points in a career (165), goals scored (64) and she is the first Cavalier player to post three consecutive seasons of notching at least 39 points. Doniak also earned All-ACC first team honors for the third time in her career.

Ratcliffe earned selection to the All-ACC third team after providing four goals and six assists on the season for a total of 14 points. It marked the second straight season for Ratcliffe to earn All-ACC honors. She hit the game-winner at No. 5 Clemson and at Boston College to help the Cavaliers to the ACC regular-season title and the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.  Ratcliffe tallied 68 points in her career and played almost 5,000 minutes.

Virginia finished the season with a 19-1-3 record and claimed the ACC regular-season championship with a 9-1 mark in conference play. The Cavaliers advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, marking the fourth time in the last five seasons Virginia has advanced to at least the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.