ST. LOUIS, MO - William and Mary senior Claire Zimmeck (Fairfax, Va.) became the latest in a long line of Tribe standouts to be drafted by a professional sports franchise Friday, after she was selected by the Washington Freedom with the 63rd overall pick in the inaugural Women's Professional Soccer draft.

Zimmeck finished her stellar four-year career with 57 goals and 12 assists, and ranking among the Tribe's all-time top-five in seven career categories, including the most match-winning goals with 25. A three-time All-American and two-time CAA Player of the Year, Zimmeck earned first-team all-conference honors in 2008 after leading W&M to its third-straight regular season title, and scoring 15 goals and a career-high six assists.

WPS is a world-class women's soccer league beginning play in April of 2009 with teams in seven American cities, including Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, the New Jersey/New York area, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Zimmeck is the fifth Tribe women's soccer player to be selected in a professional draft. In 2001, four former W&M players were chosen in the inaugural draft of the W-USA, including Ann Cook, a fourth-round selection by San Francisco; Missy Wycinsky, an eighth-round selection by San Diego; Stephanie Loehr, an 11th-round choice by Washington; and Carrie Moore, a 14th-round pick for Washington.