Home » VIDEO: Orlando Pride Drafts Space Coast Sports Hall of Famers Ashlyn Harris and Toni Pressley

VIDEO: Orlando Pride Drafts Space Coast Sports Hall of Famers Ashlyn Harris and Toni Pressley

By  //  November 2, 2015

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Brevard County Natives, Ashlyn Harris and Toni Pressley, Return To Their Florida Home

BREVARD COUNTY • ORLANDO, FLORIDA – The Orlando Pride selected goalkeeper and 2012 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Ashlyn Harris, a Brevard County and Satellite Beach native, with its second pick in the draft. 

The Pride weren’t done, when they selected 2015 Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer Toni Pressley.

Ashlyn Harris, who lead Satellite High to the Class 3A state titles in 2002 and 2003 under coach Fitzgerald Haig during her sophomore and junior seasons.

Harris was a Parade Magazine All-America in each of her four years of high school.

ABOVE VIDEO: Ashlyn Harris a 2012 Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer Inductee.

As a senior at the University of North Carolina in the fall of 2009, Harris helped the Tar Heels win their 20th NCAA title in the 28-year history of the NCAA Tournament.

She posted a shutout as North Carolina blanked Stanford 1-0 in the final.  Harris also posted a shutout in the NCAA semifinals when the Tar Heels defeated Notre Dame 1-0.

Ashlyn-Harris-580-2
The Orlando Pride selected goalkeeper and 2012 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Ashlyn Harris, a Brevard County and Satellite Beach native, with its second pick in the draft. (InkedMag.com Image)

She visited Brevard County back on May 19, shortly before her trip to Canada for the 2015 World Cup. A few weeks later, the U.S. women’s soccer team went on to win the World Cup.

Harris enters the Orlando Pride as the projected starting goalkeeper for the 2016 season.

ABOVE VIDEO: Toni Pressley: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame 2015.

Pressley, who attended West Shore Junior/Senior High School, has made her name in the world of women’s pro soccer.

In her defense position, she played for the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League.

Pressley, who attended West Shore Junior/Senior High School, has made her name in the world of women’s pro soccer. In her defense position, she played for the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
Pressley, who attended West Shore Junior/Senior High School, has made her name in the world of women’s pro soccer. In her defense position, she played for the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League. Now, a current member of the Orlando Pride. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

Her rise to pro soccer began in West Melbourne, where the then five-year-old Pressley began playing soccer in the numerous youth games held at Rodes Park.

A soccer scholarship at Florida State University allowed Pressley to study criminology while playing defender and forward for the Seminoles from 2008 to 2011.

Recognition of her abilities came often. She was named to the All-ACC Second Team as a freshman, and was a Hermann Trophy Watch List candidate in 2010 and 2011.

In 2010, Pressley was named Soccer America MVP and also earned NSCAA Southeast Region First Team honors. That same year, she ranked number 41 on the Top Drawer National Top 100 Women.

About Orlando Pride:

With three major professional teams, Orlando City Soccer Club (OCSC) has established itself as one of the preeminent Clubs in professional soccer.

 The Orlando Pride, OCSC’s National Women’s Soccer League franchise, will begin league play in 2016 – bringing professional women’s soccer to Orlando for the first time. The team is led by renowned Head Coach Tom Sermanni, former manager for the Australian and U.S. women’s national teams.

 For more information on the Orlando Pride, visit www.Orlando-Pride.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.