Pali Blues News Release - www.bluessoccerclub.com

Monday, March 2, 2009

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA -- With the May 9th season opener on the horizon, the defending W-League champion Pali Blues announces the acquisition of Stanford University forward Kelley O’Hara. In addition to a career full of personal accolades, O’Hara possesses years of experience on multiple levels of the U.S. Women’s National Team.

"This is another huge signing for us,” Blues head coach Charlie Naimo commented. “Kelley is not only a complete player, she is a winner. Her competitive spirit and passion shine every time she steps on the pitch. Kelley reminds me a lot of Heather O’Reilly (U.S. National Team and former player of Naimo) and, without question, will be joining her next year in the WPS."

Sharing the sentiments of Naimo was Blues General Manager Jason Lemire.

"Kelley is another tremendous signing and reflects our commitment this season to building an exciting, offensive-minded team our fans are sure to appreciate," he noted.

In three years of playing for Stanford University, the versatile O’Hara has registered 81 points on 31 goals and 19 assists. After a 20-point freshman year, she was named to the All-Pac 10 First Team and Freshman Team, as well as being a Soccer Buzz National Freshman of the Year finalist. After tallying 23 points in her second season with the Cardinal, she was named an NSCAA/adidas Second-Team All-American, a Top Drawer Third Team All-American, All-Pac 10 First Teamer, and she was a U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year finalist. This past fall, O’Hara recorded 38 points which led to a Second Team All-Pac 10 selection and a Top Drawer Second Team All-American nod.

O’Hara also brings a wealth of experience with multiple levels of the U.S. Women’s National Team. She received her first call-up to the senior U.S. Women’s National Team in March of 2007 and began her national team career with the U-16 club in 2004. She then progressed to the U-17 side and led the team by scoring 10 goals in 2005. Since that time, she has logged minutes for both the U-20 and U-21 Women’s National Teams.

Before heading west to Stanford University, O’Hara had a very successful high school career while playing for Starr’s Mill in Fayetteville, Georgia. She stocked her trophy case while suiting up for the Panthers, where she was a two-time Parade Magazine All-American, two-time NSCAA/adidas Youth All-American, NSCAA High School All-American, 2006 NSCAA/adidas and Gatorade State Player of the Year, 2006 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Player of the Year, and she led her team to the Georgia 5A state championship game in 2004 and 2006. In her last high school game she ever played, O’Hara and Starr’s Mill won that 2006 title game.