FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University alumna Nikki Stanton has signed a professional contract with the Sky Blue FC of the nine-team National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) as announced by the organization on Tuesday.

Stanton was an amateur call-up from the Sky Blue FC Reserve team prior to signing with Sky Blue FC. Stanton made her NWSL debut as an amateur on June 15 playing for 17 minutes in the midfield against the Chicago Red Stars.

“I'm so excited. It's really been a dream come true,” Stanton said.

Stanton, who graduated in May, had a stellar career for the Stags. The midfielder was a four-year starter for the Stags, after missing her first season due to an injury that she suffered in high school. She is only one of seven players in program history to be named to the All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) First Team three times in a career and only the fifth to earn National Soccer Coaches Associate of America (NSCAA) All-Northeast Region First Team honors. Stanton started 77 of the 79 games in which she played in her four seasons, which leaves her fifth on the all-time starts list in program history. She tallied 15 assists for her career, leaving her just outside the program's top-10 and graduates with 27 total career points. She excelled in the classroom as well, earning four MAAC All-Academic Team selections and three MAAC All-Academic Honor Roll nods.

In her final season, she led the Stags with seven assists and tallied 11 points en route to All-MAAC First Team and All-NSCAA All-Northeast Region First Team accolades. Stanton also helped Fairfield to the MAAC Championship finals and earned All-Tournament Team honors.

“My staff and I are thrilled at the news that one of our own has realized the dream of playing professional soccer,” Fairfield University Head Coach Jim O'Brien said. “Nikki was one of the backbones of our program and we all knew that she had what it takes to become a pro.”

Stanton and Sky Blue FC are back in action on June 25 against the Portland Thorns FC.