July 2, 2001

The professional leagues continue to take top Loyola Marymount University student-athletes this summer. The WUSA's San Diego Spirit signed former goal keeper Tracy Sharp to a contract, making her the third Lion to sign a pro contract this summer.

Sharp, who earned second team All-Conference honors as a senior in the 2000 season, finished her career as LMU's all-time career leader in shutouts with 33.0 and with a goals against average of 0.87. She set a single season mark with a .60 GAA in 1998, her first of two seasons of claiming the WCC's Defender of the Year. She matched the honor in 1999 with a 0.83 GAA and 12.5 shutouts.

Her efforts as a junior in 1999 earned her honorable mention All-American honors by College Soccer News. In 1998 she was LMU's female athlete of the year and was a Soccer Buzz first team All-Region member.

The native of Yorba Linda, Calif., joins pitcher C.J. Wilson (Texas Rangers) and former men's basketball recruit Oscar Forman (Australian professional basketball league) to sign with a professional franchise this summer.

-GO LIONS-