ORLANDO, Fla. - (August 30, 2016) – Orlando Pride has claimed rookie defender McKenzie Berryhill off of waivers, the Club announced today. In addition, defender Steph Catley has been placed on the season-ending disabled list after suffering a metatarsal fracture and hamstring strain during the Rio Olympics.
“McKenzie was a player that we looked closely at in the draft this year, and she came into serious consideration, but was selected by Portland,” Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni said. “We see her potential and really like her defensive qualities from the footage we’ve watched. She’s a pure defender: dominant and tough. These remaining games are an opportunity for us to have a closer look at her in our environment and hopefully make her part of our club for the future.”
Berryhill, 23, was selected by Portland Thorns FC in the third round (No. 21 overall) in the 2016 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) College Draft. In her first professional season, the Phoenix, Ariz. native appeared in five matches for the Thorns.
A graduate of Arizona State University, Berryhill totaled six goals and four assists over 76 matches on the Sun Devils’ backline. Over her four-year career in Tempe, Berryhill was named a First-Team All-Pac-12 and NSCAA First-Team All-Pacific Region honoree.
Orlando is on the road for its next two matches, traveling to face the Houston Dash on Sept. 3 and Sky Blue FC on Sept. 7. The Pride return to Camping World Stadium for their final two matches of the 2016 regular season, hosting Sky Blue on Sept. 10 and reigning NWSL Champion FC Kansas City on Sept. 24.
