PHILADELPHIA—Two former La Salle Women's Soccer standouts, Renee Washington and Courtney Niemiec, have been invited to preseason training camp for teams in the National Women's Soccer League (NSWL) in preparation for the upcoming 2014 season. 
 
Washington, a New Jersey native, will return to her home state to train with Sky Blue FC.  The team will begin preseason camp today, March 10, and open its season on the road against FC Kansas City on April 12 according to the Club's website.
 
Niemiec will travel to Portland to train with the defending NSWL Champions Portland Thorns FC. The squad will spend two weeks in Portland training under new head coach Paul Riley before traveling to Arizona to round out preseason camp.  Thorns FC open the season on April 12 against expansion club Houston Dash at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.
 
"We're extremely excited for the opportunity both Courtney and Renee have ahead of them," head coach Paul Royal said. "It's great to see their hard work, dedication and drive pay off by getting the chance to play alongside some of the best players in the world.  It shows how far our program has come by having two of our most decorated players join the professional ranks."
 
The duo capped off historic careers in blue and gold in the fall of 2013 with defending its Atlantic 10 Championship title and appearing in its third-consecutive NCAA tournament.
 
Washington graduates in a tie as the program's all-time goal scorer (40) and second overall for points tallied (101).  Off the field, the midfielder received a slew of academic awards during her career, most notably being named a third-team Academic All-American by CoSIDA a year ago. Washington twice earned A-10 Academic All-Conference status and has now been selected to the NSCAA Scholar All-America team for the third consecutive year.
 
Niemiec earned Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year recognition in 2012 and remained one of La Salle's most consistent and stalwart defensive presence being named first team All Conference during the 2013 season.  Anchoring a defense that allowed only 18 goals all season, Niemiec pitched in as an offensive threat, netting a goal against George Mason on La Salle's senior day.
 
"We are incredibly proud of both Courtney and Renee and we wish them all the best this upcoming preseason," Royal said.  "[Courtney and Renee] have always gone above and beyond our expectations as an Explorers and we're confident that their dreams of becoming a professional player will soon become a reality."