Connecticut Passion News Release - www.connecticutfootballclub.com

Saturday, May 10, 2008

NEW ROCHELLE, NY -- Forward Fortuna Velaj scored her second goal of the game on a penalty kick in the 80th minute to propel the Connecticut Passion to a 2-2 draw with the New York Magic in the CFC elite team's first-ever USL W-League regular season game played at Iona College Saturday afternoon.

Velaj, a senior at Westhill High School (Stamford, CT) and headed to play at Quinnipiac in the fall, put the Passion in front in the 6th minute firing a shot into the left corner past Magic goalkeeper Suzanne Baldissard.

Trailing 1-0 at the break, New York countered with two second half goals from Robin McCullough (59th minute) and Henry Donna-Kay (74th minute) to give the Magic a 2-1 advantage before Velaj's penalty brought CFC back even in the closing minutes.

Kelly Boudreau (Farmington, CT) played the first half in goal for CFC stopping five shots and Nikki Weiss (Redding, CT) made 3 saves in the net in the second half for the Passion.

CFC Passion head coach Dave Clarke (Quinnipiac women's coach) said, "It was a good start. Our inexperienced show a bit, but we are happy to come away with a point on the road."

The Passion (0-0-1) will play their inaugural USL W-League home game next Saturday night, May 17th when they host a periennally strong Jersey Sky Blue (1-0) side at Yale University's Reese Stadium at 7:00pm.

Ticket information for next Saturday night's home opener at Yale and all CFC Passion home games may be obtained by emailing info@connecticut footballclub.com or contacting CFC Passion GM Steve Risser at steverisser@cox.net.