Jersey Sky Blue News Release - www.skybluesoccer.com
Thursday, February 14, 2008
BEDMINSTER, NJ -- After capping a stellar collegiate career at Villanova University, Jillian Loyden will rejoin Jersey Sky Blue for the 2008 W-League season. Sky Blue Soccer announced that the All-American goalkeeper will return in net after making a successful debut with Jersey Sky Blue last year.
Loyden leaves Villanova with a number of school records, an NSCAA All-America first team selection, and the prospect of joining Women's Professional Soccer when the new league kicks off in 2009 with Sky Blue as one of the league's founding members. Loyden starred with Jersey Sky Blue in the 2007 W-League season helping the first-year team to a 12-2 record and a berth in the Eastern Conference playoffs. She also works with Sky Blue as a staff coach for the Sky Blue Karina LeBlanc Goalkeeper School.
"Jill is an up-and-coming keeper with the ability and the drive and dedication to play at the next level," said Jersey Sky Blue head coach Denise Reddy. "I'm confident that she is a future professional and a definite prospect for the US National Team."
In her first season with Jersey Sky Blue in 2007, Loyden was among the league's goalkeeping statistical leaders as part of the league's best defense. In nine games, Loyden posted a 7-2 mark allowing just four goals against for a .517 goals against average - the third best average in the league. As a team, Sky Blue allowed just six goals in 14 regular season games - the lowest goals against total of all 34 teams in the W-League in 2007.
At Villanova, Loyden rewrote the record books with career records for shutouts (37), victories (48), and minutes played (7,542 in 82 games). The four-year starter winds up her collegiate career ranked 10th all-time in minutes and 17th all-time in goals-against average (.68) in the NCAA Division I record book. Loyden is also the first-ever three-time winner of the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year award.
As a senior Loyden helped Villanova to an 11-4-6 mark as the Wildcats led all NCAA Division I teams in both save percentage (.897) and team shutout percentage (.667). Individually, she ranked fourth nationally with a .891 save percentage and 10th nationally with a .52 goals against average. As a junior in 2006, Loyden was named to the NSCAA All-America first team, Loyden led Villanova to school record for wins with a 16-4-2 mark while breaking the school record with a .45 goals against average.
"Having Jill in goal really gave our team a lot of confidence last year - she's a tremendous shot-stopper," said Jersey Sky Blue general manager Patric Santo Pietro. "Bringing Jill back to the team gives Sky Blue a strong foundation as we continue to build for the 2008 season."
Season tickets are available now through the Sky Blue Soccer website for Jersey Sky Blue's second season in the W-League. Sky Blue will open the season on May 10 when it travels to Framingham, MA to face the Boston Renegades. Jersey Sky Blue opens its home schedule on May 31 when it hosts Boston in a return match at 7:30 pm at Drew University's Ranger Stadium in Madison, NJ.
SKY BLUE PROFILE: Jillian Loyden
• Hometown: Vineland, NJ
• Born: 6/25/1985
• Former member of United States Youth National Team pool
• Made a successful W-League debut with Jersey Sky Blue in 2007 with a 7-2 mark in nine appearances
• Posted a .517 goals against average - the third best average in the W-League
• Capped a successful career at Villanova University this past fall setting career records for shutouts (37), victories (48), and minutes played (7,542 in 82 games)
• Finished with a 48-19-14 career record
• Four-year starter finished 10th all-time in minutes and 17th all-time in goals-against average (.68) in NCAA Division I history
• Earned All-BIG EAST honors all four years including three first team honors (2005-2007) and one second team pick (2004)
• The first-ever three-time winner of the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year award (2005-2007)
• As a senior, helped Villanova to an 11-4-6 mark as the Wildcats led all NCAA Division I teams in both save percentage (.897) and team shutout percentage (.667)
• Ranked fourth nationally in save percentage (.891) and 10th nationally in goals against average(.52)
• Earned NSCAA All-Mid Atlantic Region second team honors and SoccerBuzz All-Mid Atlantic Region third team honors
• Allowed just 11 goals in 20 games with 12 solo shutouts
• In 2006, led the Wildcats to their most successful season ever with a school record for wins and a 16-4-2 mark
• Named to the NSCAA All-America first team and the SoccerBuzz All-America fourth team
• Earned NSCAA and SoccerBuzz All-Mid Atlantic first team honors
• Set a school record with a .45 goals against average and also posted a .903 save percentage while allowing just 10 goals and posting 11 shutouts
• Recorded seven consecutive shutouts while running up a shutout streak of 736 minutes and 24 seconds
• In 2005, started all 18 games leading Villanova to a 10-5-4 mark
• NSCAA All-Mid Atlantic Region second team pick
• Allowed 18 goals in 20 games with a .810 save percentage, a 1.09 goals against average, and six shutouts
• In 2004, earned the starting position after redshirting in 2003 helping Villanova to a 14-5-2 mark
• Named to the NSCAA and SoccerBuzz All-Mid Atlantic Region second team
• Allowed 16 goals in 22 games with a .864 save percentage, a .73 goals against average, and eight shutouts
• Was a first team All-State selection at Vineland (NJ) High School
• Named the Atlantic City Press (2002) and the Daily Journal (2001, 2002) Player of the Year
• Played on the club level for the Mount Laurel Shockwaves and the Ocean Shooting Stars
