Carolina RailHawks News Release - www.carolinarailhawks.com

Thursday, February 28, 2008

CARY, NC -- The Carolina RailHawks announced today a roster of 20 athletes who have committed, pending league approval, to be a part of the Inaugural 2008 Carolina RailHawks Women. Head Coach Jay Howell and Assistant Coach Monica Hall have put together an impressive list of athletes with college, W-League and National Team experience.

“Based on the quality and personalities of the players on the 2008 Inaugural Carolina RailHawks Women roster, we will field an aggressive, attacking, and creative team,” said Carolina RailHawks Women Head Coach Jay Howell. “The team will be entertaining to watch and fun to coach.”

The area’s colleges are very well represented with Anna Rodenbough, Betsy Frederick, Mandy Moraca and Casey Nogueira from UNC-Chapel Hill, Kelly Hathorn, CJ Ludemann and Jane Alukonis from Duke University, Lindsay Vera from NC State, Kelly Attayek and Jen Bronson from UNC-Greensboro, Bess Harrington and Sarah Winslow from Wake Forest and Allie Wilkerson from Barton College. Other players include All-American Carrie Patterson from UGA, Lindsey Jackson from Clemson, Morven Ross from James Madison University, Sarah Jackyra and Molly Baird from the University of Tennessee, Tara Knauss formerly of NC State and the Carolina Dynamo and Thori Bryan, an NC State Alum who has had an impressive professional career in the WUSA and with the US National team.

Mandy Moraca, Casey Nogueira, Tara Knauss and Thori Bryan have all had W-League experience having played in different teams in the recent years. Bryan and Nogueira also have National Team experience.

Nogueira is currently a member of the U-20 US National Team and was the youngest member on the World Championship roster.

Bryan was a member of the Raleigh Wings, 1999 W-League champions and 2000 runners-up, and a member of the San Jose CyberRays of WUSA. She was also part of the 1995 US National team that placed third at the World Cup in Sweden and an alternate on the 1996 Olympic team.

“I am really excited to return to competitive soccer,” said Thori Bryan. “I’ve known Coach Howell for quite some time and he has put together a great roster of players for the Carolina RailHawks Women.”

The Carolina RailHawks Women begin their preseason on April 28th and will start the regular season on May 10th in Greensboro against the Carolina Dynamo. The RailHawks Women will make their WakeMed Soccer Park debut on Friday, May 16th at 7:30 PM. For tickets and more info on all the teams in the Carolina RailHawks organization please visit www.carolinarailhawks.com.