Jersey Sky Blue News Release - www.skybluesoccer.com
Friday, March 21, 2008
BEDMINSTER, NJ -- Sky Blue Soccer announced today two additions to bolster the defense for its W-League team Jersey Sky Blue. Jaime Komar and Stephanie Peel will join a Sky Blue back four that led the league in goals against in the 2007 season with six allowed in 14 games.
The two prospects will be with Jersey Sky Blue when the team opens its second season in the W-League on May 10 on the road against the Boston Renegades. Sky Blue will make its 2008 home debut on Saturday, May 31 when it hosts the Renegades at 7:30 pm at Drew University.
Both Komar and Peel recently capped successful college careers - Komar at Rutgers University and Peel at Arizona State University. Peel is a veteran of the W-League with 2008 marking her sixth season with her sixth team in the league while Komar will be making her W-League debut.
"Jaime and Stephanie will be valuable additions to our defense," said Jersey Sky Blue head coach Denise Reddy. "We were tough to score on last year and these two should make us even tougher."
Komar capped her career at Rutgers by helping the Scarlet Knights post their best season ever in 2006. The Matawan, NJ native patrolled the back as Rutgers set a school record for wins with a 16-3-4 mark. The Scarlet Knights held the opposition to just six goals during the regular season before notching their first-ever appearance in the BIG EAST Tournament final and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
A multi-sport star on the scholastic level at St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel, NJ, Komar made the transition to playing defense while at Rutgers. For her career, she played in 72 matches with 51 starts. She was also a two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star.
"Jaime is a terrific athlete with tremendous speed," Reddy said. "She's a hard worker and has the ability and drive to take her game to the next level."
Peel joins Sky Blue with a wealth of experience in the W-League dating back to the 2000 season. She previously played for five teams: North Texas Heat (2000), Texas Odyssey (2001), Chicago Cobras (2004), Arizona Heatwave (2005), and New York Magic (2006). She reached the W-League playoffs with Texas, Chicago, and Arizona and, along with current Sky Blue teammate Fanta Cooper, helped the Cobras advance to the W-League semifinals in 2004 in Ottawa before finishing fourth.
At Arizona State, Peel started all 80 games during her four years with the program from 2001 to 2004. The Plano, TX native helped the Sun Devils to a 43-29-8 record during that period with trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2002 and 2003. She also earned All-Pac 10 Academic second team honors for three years from 2002 to 2004.
"Peel brings extensive W-League experience to our franchise," Reddy said. "She's a strong and intelligent player that will add another dimension to our defense."
Season tickets and group packages are available now through the Sky Blue Soccer website for Jersey Sky Blue's second season in the W-League. Sky Blue will open the season on May 10 when it travels to Framingham, MA to face the Boston Renegades. Jersey Sky Blue opens its home schedule on May 31 when it hosts Boston in a return match at 7:30 pm at Drew University's Ranger Stadium in Madison, NJ.
SKY BLUE PROFILE: Jaime Komar
• Hometown: Matawan, NJ
• Birthdate: September 21, 1985
• Put together a successful career at Rutgers University from 2003 to 2006 playing in 72 matches with 51 starts during her time with the Scarlet Knights
• Two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star
• As a senior in 2006, started all 23 games posting four assists and was a key part of the Rutgers defense as the Scarlet Knights set a school record for wins with a 16-3-4 mark
• Rutgers held the opposition to just six goals against in the regular season and followed that up with its first-ever trip to the BIG EAST Tournament championship match and a trip to the NCAA Tournament
• As a junior in 2005, led a Rutgers defense that posted a .88 goals-against average and eight shutouts
• As a sophomore in 2004, played in 18 matches making five starts
• As a freshman in 2003, played in 10 matches making two starts with two assists
• Starred scholastically in soccer, basketball, and softball at St. John Vianney high school in Holmdel, NJ
SKY BLUE PROFILE: Stephanie Peel
• Hometown: Plano, Texas
• Birthdate: February 15, 1983
• Currently serving as a graduate assistant coach at Lehigh University
• Previously played five years in the W-League for the North Texas Heat (2000), Texas Odyssey (2001), Chicago Cobras (2004), Arizona Heatwave (2005), and New York Magic (2006)
• Helped Chicago to the W-League semifinals and a fourth-place finish in 2004 and also helped Texas (2001) and Arizona (2005) to playoff appearances
• Played for New York Athletic Club of the WPSL in 2007
• Former member of the United States Under-19 National Team pool (2001-2002)
• Started all 80 games in her career at Arizona State University from 2001 to 2004
• Earned All-Pac 10 Academic second team honors for three years from 2002 to 2004
• As a senior in 2004, started all 19 games as the Sun Devils posted an 8-9-2
• As a junior in 2003, started all 21 games helping ASU to a 13-5-3 mark and a trip to the NCAA Tournament
• As a sophomore in 2002, started all 21 games as the Sun Devils went 12-7-2 and appeared in the NCAA Tournament
• As a freshman in 2001, started all 19 games and recorded four goals and five assists for 13 points as ASU posted a 10-8-1 mark
• Graduate of Plano East (TX) Senior High School
• Played on the club level for the Dallas Texans Soccer Club
