Ottawa Fury Website - www.ottawafury.com

Friday, April 25

OTTAWA, ON – The Ottawa Fury have announced the signing of four new players to their 2008 W-League squad. University of Maryland graduates Ashly Kennedy and Sarah Sample will join current University of Mississippi players Jennifer Hance and Danielle Johnson on the Fury roster for this upcoming season.

"We are extremely fortunate to have added players of this quality to our roster,” said Fury Assistant Coach Dom Oliveri. “Ashly, Sarah, and Jennifer have US National Team experience and Danielle comes to us with a tremendous collegiate track record."

Kennedy, from Edgewater, Maryland has just completed a stellar varsity career at the University of Maryland. She is a two-time team captain who started all 74 matches of her Maryland career. During her time in College Park, the Terrapins posted 23 shutouts. Recognized as one of Maryland’s all-time best defenders, she was among the fastest defensive players in the ACC conference with a physical style of play that set her apart from the rest. Kennedy was a decorated youth level player and a member of the United States Youth National Team Pool.

Sample, from Annapolis Maryland, split her college career between George Washington University (2003/2004) and the University of Maryland (2005/2006). Sample was ever-present and dependable appearing in a total of 73 games (69 starts), scoring 12 goals and adding 10 assists. A versatile player, Sample can play midfield or up front. Before college she was a three year member of the Olympic Development Team as a US national pool player. Sample was no stranger to honors, being selected to the First team all-Atlantic 10 in 2004 and the 2003 Atlantic 10 all-rookie team.

Hance, from Sugar Land, Texas, has just completed her junior year at the University of Mississippi. The midfielder/forward was voted SEC Freshman of the Year by league coaches, second-team All-American by Soccer Buzz/Soccer America and was one of 15 finalists for Soccer Buzz National Freshman of the Year. She participated in a US U-20 National Team camp in 2006. Hance was consistently among the top points-getters on her college squad, racking up 17 goals and eight assists over the past three years.

Johnson, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a leading member of the University of Mississippi defense and midfield. In two seasons with Ole Miss, Johnson picked up Freshman All-America honors (2006) as well as All-SEC and All-Region honors in both 2006 and 2007. Johnson has anchored a miserly Rebel back line that allowed just 40 goals in 40 contests over 2006 and 2007. Johnson logged 1,828 minutes in 19 games for the Rebels last year and was voted team MVP by her peers.

The Fury has put together a tremendous W-League record over the past five seasons. They have qualified for the W-League Championship Finals in four of the last five years losing in the semi-finals in 2003 and 2004 and in the final to New Jersey and Vancouver in 2005 and 2006. In 2005 and 2007, the Fury was the W-League regular season champions. Last season, the club registered an unbeaten 11-0-1 record in regular season play, before losing to the eventual W-League champion Washington Freedom, 1-0 in the Eastern Conference final. The club has amassed a remarkable 58-5-3 regular season record over the past five seasons.

The Fury open their 2008 W-League campaign with a home game on Saturday, June 7 when they host the Western Massachusetts Pioneers at the University of Ottawa Athletic Complex, kickoff is at 7:00 PM. For season ticket information visit the Fury web site at www.ottawafury.com.