Gareis Selected by Houston Dash in Fourth Round of NWSL Draft

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s soccer forward Ryan Gareis was taken with the sixth pick in the fourth round of the National Women’s Soccer League College Draft Saturday night (Dec. 18) by the Houston Dash. Gareis was the 44th overall pick in the draft and the only selection Houston made on the night.
 
Gareis becomes the third Gamecock to be taken in the NWSL draft, joining Savannah McCaskill (2018) and Sabrina D’Angelo (2015). The Dash finished the 2021 season seventh in the NWSL standings with a 9-10-5 record. She joins four other former Gamecocks currently on NWSL rosters in Taylor Leach (Kansas City), Kaleigh Kurtz (North Carolina), Tatumn Milazzo (Chicago), and McCaskill (Angel City).
 
The Naperville, Illinois native finished her final season with Gamecocks being named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region Third Team and Scholar All-Region Second Team, while also being selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. Over her five seasons, she played in 100 matches, second most in program history. Gareis’ nine game-winning assists are fifth all-time, her 18 career assists are sixth most, and her seven game-winning goals are 10th best. She also tallied 15 goals for 48 total points.
 
Gareis finished the 2021 season second on the team with nine assists, which ranked 43rd in the country, and were tied for 10th most in a season in program history. She was third on the team with four goals and her 17 points were second best on the squad. For her performance against Auburn, Gareis was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
 
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