Chicago Red Stars Press Release

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer today announce the signing of Pali Blues defender Christie Shaner to a developmental contract. Per team policy, terms of her agreement are not released.

The move coincides with a recent slew of injuries to the Red Stars' defense and midfield, including center defender and captain Kate Markgraf, who is listed as questionable for Thursday's match at the Washington Freedom because of a concussion injury.

"It's basically an emergency situation, and we're going to bring Christie in right away," Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi said. "She has experience in this league, she has height and physicality to her play. It's basically a stop-gap situation and we're going to throw her into the mix."

Shaner will be available for selection on Thursday and will wear a No. 5 jersey.

Shaner originally was selected by Sky Blue FC in the fourth round (25th overall) of the 2009 WPS Draft. She played in two matches and logged 40 minutes before she was traded to the Los Angeles Sol on June 30, 2009, filling a first-team roster spot vacated by Martina Franko, who was pregnant.

But Shaner's first WPS season came to an abrupt halt in her first match with L.A. Shaner suffered a mid-shaft tibia/fibula fracture against the Washington Freedom's Abby Wambach early in the second half of the Sol's 1-0 win over Washington.

Shaner and the Red Stars face Wambach and the Freedom at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md. The Red Stars (5-9-6, 21 points) currently are in sixth place but are close behind Washington (5-8-7, 22 points), which is clinging to a fourth-place tie in the standings with Sky Blue FC. Both teams have four matches remaining as the full WPS field is in the hunt for three remaining postseason berths.

Shaner played collegiately at the University of Notre Dame from 2003 to 2006, earning a national championship in 2004. Red Stars Technical Advisor Charlie Naimo is familiar with Shaner's work on the pitch. Aside from Naimo's days as the Sol's general manager, he most recently coached Shaner with the Pali Blues Soccer Club (Santa Monica, Calif.) of the United Soccer Leagues' W-League.

"Charlie has worked with her directly, and I trust his judgment," Namazi said. "She can certainly compete at this level, so to get her as a developmental player is a huge plus."