One of the best midfielders in Oregon State University history will play professional soccer less than 100 miles from her alma mater.

Courtney Wetzel, a 2007 Puyallup High School graduate who played soccer at Oregon State University from 2007-10, signed with Portland Thorns FC on April 5.

The Thorns play in the newly formed National Women’s Soccer League. Wetzel will play in the midfield.

Wetzel finished with 22 career assists at Oregon State, and she set a single-season school record with 12 during her senior year. After her college career, she played for the Ottawa Fury of the USL W-League.

Playing professional soccer is something Wetzel has thought about ever since she was a kid.

“As a soccer player, you always want to play at the highest level possible,” she said. “I’m giving it a shot and am hoping for the best. We have a great team and are looking to finish at the top of our division. I want to work my way up and am hoping to get on the field and just go from there. It will be a work in progress.”

Wetzel said she’s had a lot of support along the way on her journey to Portland.

“My college coaches were really supportive of me and encouraged me to play anywhere I could after college,” she said. “They knew how much I loved the game and encouraged me to go overseas if I had to.”

Wetzel isn’t taking the opportunity to play soccer on the West Coast lightly.

“It’s not in my own backyard, but it’s close enough to where my parents can travel to almost every home game,” she said. “You can never have too much support. I love the fact that my family and friends can come down and watch a game any time they want.”