Hudson Valley Quickstrike Press Release - www.quickstrikefc.com
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
NEWBURGH, NY – Preseason workouts began across the country for the eight Women’s Professional Soccer teams on Monday. Many hopefuls were integrating with some of the best players in the world in hopes of earning a professional roster spot. The task is grueling and the space is limited, but with the proper experience, a diamond in the rough can bring a new element to a team in need.
Four players from the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues, the 2009 W-League Regular Season Champions, were among the professional hopefuls on Monday, looking to prove their worth at the next level and live the dream WPS affords.
Kristen Edmonds, Alicia Tirelli and Ashley Thompson all were in New Jersey looking to impress the coaching staff of Sky Blue FC, the defending WPS Champions, while Katie Kelly made her way to Chicago looking for a shot with the Chicago Red Stars.
Edmonds played in 12 games for the Quickstrike Lady Blues in 2009, registering two goals and one assist. She patrolled the outside midfield along with Tirelli on the opposite side. Tirelli played in 13 games for the Hudson Valley, tallying three goals and one assist.
Both players will utilize that experience to make the roster of Sky Blue FC, a team that boasts some of the top names in U.S. Soccer like Heather O’Reilly, Christie Rampone and Yael Averbuch, to name a few.
Edmonds knows that with just a few days to prove herself before cuts, the task is tall. However, her 2009 W-League experience has helped her prepare for what is in store.
“Last summer with Quickstrike made me grow as a player so much,” Edmonds said. “(Head Coach Jesse Kolmel) was a very big factor in me growing because he pushed me to my limits and helped me get to where I am right now. The competition there was also really strong. With the players that he brought in last year, our team was so strong that even in practice the competition was so great and competitive. Playing with that kind of competition and under those coaches made me able to have this opportunity at the next level."
Meanwhile, Thompson heads down to New Jersey looking to make it as one of the team’s goalkeepers. She appeared in 10 games for the Lady Blues in 2009, accumulating six wins and a goals against average of 0.923.
Thompson was impressive in open tryouts in December, Sky Blue FC General Manager Gerry Marrone said.
“We need a third goalkeeper and (Thompson) performed really well,” he said. “I think she was probably the most athletic of any of the goalkeepers at the open tryouts. She has good feet and she knows that she has some areas that she needs to improve on but she is a hard-worker and had a blistering 40-yard dash speed. She’d probably be the fastest goalkeeper in the league if she makes the team."
Defender Ashleigh Gunning was signed by Sky Blue FC in October and the team recently drafted Brittany Taylor No. 6-overall in the 2010 WPS Draft. Both names are familiar to Lady Blues fans. Taylor won the 2009 W-League Defender of the Year Award and Gunning was a finalist for the award.
Katie Kelly played in 11 games for the Lady Blues in 2009, registering two assists and helping a Hudson Valley defense that gave up just nine goals in 14 regular season games.
Lady Blues Head Coach Jesse Kolmel is happy to see his players getting such opportunities at the next level.
“It is great for them,” he said. “We have two goals at Quickstrike and those are to win championships and help give players a winning environment to get to the next level.”
