Gryphons 7^th season ready to take flight - Elite Women's Soccer team eyeing the playoffs

London Gryphons are about to embark on their 7^th season in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) W-League.  The 2011 season will find the Gryphons making the move back into the challenging Great Lakes Division and competing against W-League powerhouses like the Ottawa Fury and Toronto Lady Lynx.  “As an organization we are very excited about the team being moved back into the Great Lakes division.  We played two seasons (2008 & 2009) in this division and had some tremendously exciting games against other Canadian franchises.” said Aaron Lauterbach, General Manager of the Gryphons.

The Gryphons roster this season will be a mixture of youth and experience.  For the past three years, the Gryphons have invested heavily into the development of the players in their youth Academy.  Most recently, the U17 Academy girls achieved a silver medal at the North American Championship in Tampa, Florida.   “This was one of our primary goals when starting the Academy in 2008.  Each of these girls have secured athletic scholarships to various NCAA Division 1 schools in the US, but also have dramatically raised their level of play which will make them contributors to our W-League team.” said Lauterbach.  The Gryphons have also strategically signed some veteran leadership that will prove to be invaluable this season as well.  Londoner Maria Del Guercio will be playing her first season with the Gryphons after already having three years of W-League experience with Colorado Force and Rochester Lady Rhinos.  Sylvia Gee is the Gryphons big international signing this season traveling in from Ireland.  Sylvia brings wealth of top-flight soccer experience having played both internationally for her country and in the English Premiership as well. “Signing players who bring the level of experience and leadership that both Maria and Sylvia do, is huge for us.  Their ability to take charge on the field will be a big asset for us this season”.

Staying with the youth and experience theme, this season the Gryphons have hired a new Head Coach.  Anthony Addorisio will be the fourth Head Coach in the team’s history.  Anthony in his young coaching career has built a very strong resume having coach at the collegiate level in the US and most recently was working with the prestigious Bryst Academy in Toronto.  The Club Technical Director Marcel Naarden, who is Provincial B licensed coach, will support Coach Addorisio.   “We are very excited about Anthony taking the helm this season.  He brings a real competitive drive that is complemented by his leadership and exceptional communication skills.  Having Marcel as a Technical resource to Anthony will be extremely valuable as well as holding his duties of monitoring the development of the players in our Academy program” says Lauterbach.

 The Gryphons open their season at home this year against the Laval Comets on May 28^th at 1:00pm and the location is North London Stadium (1225 Adelaide Street N).