Jersey Sky Blue News Release - www.skybluesoccer.com

Monday, March 3, 2008

BEDMINSTER, NJ -- Sky Blue Soccer announced today a new addition to its W-League team for the 2008 season with Erica Stewart signing to play for Jersey Sky Blue. A former standout at Villanova University, Stewart joins Jersey Sky Blue as it prepares for its second season in the W-League.

A standout scholastically at Cranford (NJ) High School, Stewart helped raise the status of Villanova’s women’s soccer program leading the Wildcats to their first four NCAA Tournament appearances ever along with the team’s first-ever BIG EAST Championship in 2003. Following her career at Villanova, Stewart served as an assistant coach for the past three seasons with the Rutgers University women’s soccer team.

“Erica is a very dynamic player with good speed and quickness,” said Denise Reddy, the first-year head coach of Jersey Sky Blue. “She is a hard-working player that is constantly striving to better her game. These attributes will only help make our team that much stronger.”

Stewart starred in the midfield at Villanova from 2001 to 2004 playing in front of Jersey Sky Blue goalkeeper Jillian Loyden in the 2004 season. She guided the Wildcats to their first four NCAA Tournament appearances in program history and also buried the decisive penalty kick in a shootout to lift Villanova past Boston College for the 2003 BIG EAST Championship – the first-ever for the Wildcats. In total, Stewart made 89 appearances for Villanova with eight career goals.

Aside from her exploits on the soccer field, Stewart also boasts a brush with Hollywood on her résumé as well. In the 2007 film Gracie, Stewart played the body double for lead actress Carly Schroeder during the movie’s soccer scenes. Set in the 1970s and based on the real-life experiences of New Jersey-native actors Elisabeth and Andrew Shue, the film tells the story of Grace Bowen as she fights for the opportunity to play on a boy’s soccer team. (More about movie role [+])

Prior to starring at Villanova, Stewart led Cranford to the No. 1 ranking in New Jersey and the No. 2 ranking nationally in the USA Today and NSCAA high school polls in 2000. The Cougars racked up a 22-0-1 record while capturing the NJSIAA Group III state title.

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: Erica Stewart

• Hometown: Cranford, NJ
• Born: 4/13/1983
• Formerly served as an assistant coach for the Rutgers University women’s soccer team from 2005-2007
• Starred for Villanova University from 2001-2004 guiding the Wildcats to their first four appearances in the NCAA Tournament
• As a senior in 2004, started all 22 games and posted two goals and two assists helping Villanova to a 14-6-2 mark
• As a junior in 2003, played in 25 games with two goals and one assist
• Led the Wildcats to a 15-5-5 mark and the program’s first-ever BIG EAST Conference championship
• Scored the deciding penalty kick in a shootout victory over Boston College in the BIG EAST championship game
• As a sophomore in 2002, played in 20 games helping the Wildcats to a 14-3-5 mark
• As a freshman in 2001, played in 22 games notching four goals and four assists as Villanova went 13-6-3
• Earned All-State honors at Cranford (NJ) High School helping the Cougars to a No. 1 ranking in New Jersey and the No. 2 ranking nationally (USA Today, NSCAA) in 2000 with a 22-0-1 record and a NJSIAA Group III championship
• Played on the club level for MC Dynamo winning State Cup titles from 1998 to 2000
• In the 2007 movie Gracie, played the body double for lead actress Carly Schroeder in the film inspired by Elisabeth and Andrew Shue