USL News Release

Saturday, September 06, 2008

TAMPA – The second day of United Soccer Leagues W-League combine came early for the top 16 goalkeepers in the W-League as an 8:30 AM EDT training session gave the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) coaches in attendance an up-close look at each net minder’s athleticism and technique. Two hours later at 10:30 AM all 128 players in attendance gathered for a WPS presentation at Mainsail Suites Hotel in Northwest Tampa. A UBS Luncheon followed at 12:30 where the Profile Player of the Day, Jill Oakes of the 2008 W-League Champion Pali Blues spoke to children about the lessons she has taken away from her, soon to be, professional playing career.

“One thing I have learned from soccer is that it is important to be part of something bigger than yourself,” said Oakes during the UBS Luncheon. “You are always representing a team. At the club level I was representing a city, then, in college at UCLA, I was representing a university. Ultimately, you have a chance to represent your country. Through soccer, with the W-League flourishing and the WPS kicking off next season, there are lots of opportunities for young women to succeed and represent something bigger than yourselves. All you need to do is believe in yourself and find that correlation between focus and hard work.”

Following the busiest morning of the W-League Combine, the players kicked off their second set of showcase matches at Ed Radice Sports Complex, just North of Mainsail Suites. Oakes, a defender, had the last match of the day, scheduled for 6:30 PM.

“The level of play has been mixed so far,” said Oakes. “The first day everyone is a bit nervous. But once everyone got used to each other it was very competitive.”

“I love any opportunity to play against the best players in the world,” added Oakes. “The W-League Combine also allowed me to showcase myself in front of WPS coaches. That’s an opportunity I wanted to grab a hold of.”

Watch Jill Oakes Interview Live [+]

At 24, the 2008 doubled as Oakes’ third season in the W-League. Each season she has played with a different side beginning with the New Jersey Wildcats in 2006. From there, Oakes played the 2007 season with the Vancouver Whitecaps before setting in with the Pali Blues last season. In her W-League career, Oakes has played in 37 matches scoring one goal and adding seven assists.

“The W-League is in an interesting period of transition,” said Oakes. “I have always felt it was a very professional league. It helped me a lot with the changes between playing in college and playing at the professional level. Next year I hope to be playing in the WPS. If that happens it is because of the experience I gained in the W-League.”