Wickenheiser, Boren Ink First Pro Contracts

LUBBOCK, Texas – Carly Wickenheiser and Cassie Boren became the first two from a stacked batch of Texas Tech seniors who concluded their Red Raider careers in 2018 to sign professional contracts this week. Wickenheiser will be the third former Red Raider to join Sweden's Elitettan division this offseason after signing with Möron BK, while Boren agreed to terms with UMF Selfoss in Iceland's Úrvalsdeild league.

Immediately after their signing, both Wickenheiser and Boren were quick to echo their sentiments for their last four years at Tech.

"I am so grateful for everyone at Tech and the entire athletic department here," Wickenheiser said after her signing. "My coaches and teammates have taught me so much and given me the best experience I could have wanted."

"I have been blessed throughout the years with an incredible support system, amazing teammates and coaches, and an environment that has always pushed me to be the best and keep chasing my dreams," Boren said.

Wickenheiser and Boren were partners on Tech's stubborn back line during a 2018 campaign where the Red Raiders racked up 14 shutouts (the third-most in the nation), knocked off a program-record four ranked opponents and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in seven years.

Head coach Tom Stone said Möron BK directly sought Wickenheiser out for her aggressive and direct style of play.

"They were specifically looking for the type of player Carly is," he said. "This isn't 'come in and figure out where you're going to play.' They wanted a physical, strong player with an American mentality. The American girls have the best mentality in the world, and they see that in Carly. She's as good of a fit for them as they are for her."

Wickenheiser's final year at Tech saw her start at center back in all 22 matches after making the switch from midfield heading into her senior campaign. Wickenheiser was penciled into almost every Tech lineup over the course of her career, ultimately ending with 83 appearances for the Scarlet & Black.

Wickenheiser's constant presence in the Red Raider lineup was something she had to work hard to earn, though, and head coach Tom Stone believes it is a testament to the vision she had of the player she wanted to be in Lubbock.

"The story on Carly is the journey," he said. "She was fifth on the depth chart at holding mid the day she walked onto campus, and was a starter by the time we played our first game. She never came off the field for four years."

Wickenheiser, along with Boren, was integral to Tech's Big 12 Championship in 2015, as well as the three NCAA Tournament appearances the Red Raiders made during her career. She was also a two-year captain, something Stone applauds because of the high standards placed on a captain in the Tech soccer program.

"The captain's seat can be lonely," Stone said. "It can be a lot more hours than anyone else is putting in because you share the burden with the coaching staff as to how the team is running. She's been all-in on Texas Tech soccer for four years and she makes us a priority. The younger girls look up to her. She's a great example of what you can become at Texas Tech within our program."

Carly Wickenheiser was mic'd up in-game this past weekend!

Listen to how the @TexasTechSoccer team captain directs traffic on the field. ????#NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/oRyDAuc5UI
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) October 5, 2018

Whereas Wickenheiser was new to the Tech back line in 2018, Boren was the seasoned veteran who had anchored Tech's stingy defense for the past four years. The Albuquerque, N.M., native led all field players in minutes last season after manning the center back position for every minute of all but one match. Boren's presence on the defensive side of the pitch was instrumental in 2018, but assistant coach Gibbs Keeton emphasized that her impact on the squad was felt long before her senior year.

"Bo's role [in last year's success] is very deserving for the body of work she put in for four years," Keeton said. "It's not just about last season. She made big improvements each year and had the ability to exceed expectations in any role that we had for her. She was always as good as or better than we needed her to be. She's been the rock for four years."

Boren's success especially means a lot to Keeton, whose first recruiting trip at Tech was to Albuquerque to see the defender. What he saw there was a preview of the player he would see develop over the next four years.

"As a youth player, Bo was very consistent to who she was as a player here at Tech," Keeton said. "She was athletic and the heart of her team. She was super into the game and very competitive, and that was something you could see right away."

Ultimately, Keeton is proud of the accomplishments the center back from Albuquerque has achieved.

"We didn't know what her college career was going to be," Keeton said. "And I don't think she did, either. So for her to be essentially a four-year starter and get the opportunity to play professionally is just a testament to who she is."

2??9?? for 2??9??

Coach Stone's pick for Player of the Match doesn't stick out on the scoresheet, but #29 was grinding away anyway. Senior defender Cassie Boren just helped lead us to our 29th shutout in the past four seasons.#WreckEm pic.twitter.com/jHFrmNmr54
— Texas Tech Soccer (@TexasTechSoccer) September 8, 2018

Texas Tech University Athletics

Wickenheiser, Boren Ink First Pro Contracts

Players Mentioned

Cassie Boren

Carly Wickenheiser

Related Videos