Meet Amy Rodriguez of the Boston Breakers: The WPS's A-Rod

She will forever go down in the history of Women's Professional Soccer without ever shooting, scoring or even playing. Her name will be etched eternally as the first pick in the first draft of Women's Professional Soccer. 

That coupled with her nickname, which she shares with professional baseball player Alex Rodriguez (no relation), makes Amy "A-rod" Rodriguez somewhat unforgettable. Add in her lightening fast speed and exceptional skills and the result is a WPS star in the making.

Rodriguez was selected with the first overall pick by the Breakers in the 2009 WPS Draft last December. Though she has seen action in all eight matches this season, she has started only five and came off the bench three times to provide a late match spark to the team. 

The 22-year-old from Lake Forest, CA exudes instant energy the moment she enters the game. She seems to ignite the enthusiasm of both her fellow teammates and the crowd.

Rodriguez was a gold medalist for the USA at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics (USC’s first-ever soccer medalist). She played in 18 matches for the US team prior to the 2008 Olympics, starting six of them.

The highlights of her Team USA play included scoring game-winning goals both against Brazil in the Peace Queen Cup and an Olympic send-off match. She recorded her first international goal versus Canada on Jan. 16, 2008.

Earlier in her international career, Rodriguez also played in three matches in the 2006 Algarve Cup. She previously earning her first two caps with the national team at the 2005 Algarve Cup (debut vs. Finland).

Rodriguez, who lists Usain Bolt and Mia Hamm as two of her favorite athletes, worked her way from the U.S. U-17s to the U-19s to the U-21s to the full WNT over the course of a single  year (March of 2004 to March of 2005). While a member of the U-20 national team, she posted 11 goals in 19 matches.

She was also a member of the U-19 national team that participated in the 2004 FIFA U-19 World Cup in Thailand. She scored her first goal in Thailand against South Korea and finished the tournament with two goals and two assists.

While attending USC, she helped the Trojans win the NCAA Championship in 2007—the first team from the Pac-10 to do so. She led USC with 10 goals in 2007 and earned the distinction of 2007 NCAA College Cup Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

A-Rod was named the Umbro/Soccer News Net Player of the Year in 2007. Other accolades included being named to the NSCAA and SoccerBuzz Second-Team All-West Regional team, an All-Pac-10 Second-Team in 2007 and the 2008 NSCAA/Adidas NCAA All-American Third-Team.

As a freshman in 2005, she was named to 2005 NSCAA All-American Third Team and a SoccerBuzz All-American Honorable Mention selection. She was selected to the All-Pac-10 First Team and All-Pac-10 All-Freshman Team in 2005.

She finished her college career ranked second all-time at USC in game-winning goals (12) and fourth in goals (31) and points (79).

A star at Santa Margarita High School, where she scored 17 goals in 15 games her senior year, she was named the nation’s top recruit coming out of high school in 2005.

She was also named the 2004 NSCAA, Gatorade, EA Sports and Parade Magazine National Player of the Year, the L.A. Times Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year, Orange County Register Player of the Year and an All-League and All-CIF Honoree for all four years in high school.

In 2005, she also won her second national championship with her club Laguna Hills Eclipse in 2005 where she played alongside Kasey Moore and under current L.A. Sol coach Abner Rodgers.

With those credentials entering the maiden season of the WPS, there is no doubt that Rodriguez will go into the record book for reasons other than simply being the first pick in league history.

Todd Civin is a free lance writer who covers the Boston Breakers for the WPS and the Bleacher Report. Each week he presents a different Breaker athlete in his series Meet The Breakers. He is available for comments or hire at [e-mail].

He also supports "A Glove of Their Own" the award winning picture book that is capturing the hearts of the nation. For more info visit www.agloveoftheirown.com.

Photo Credit: Michael Janosz | isiphoto