Beat Sign Wake Forest Midfielder
April 13, 2011 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Atlanta Beat News Release
KENNESAW, GA (April 13, 2011) - The Atlanta Beat of Women's Professional Soccer announced Bianca D'Agostino as the newest addition to the 2011 roster. D'Agostino signed with the Beat late in the preseason after leaving the Philadelphia Independence. She was the eighteenth overall pick in the 2011 WPS Draft as a product of Wake Forest.
Originally slated to play in Philadelphia this year, she was released late in the preseason. Beat coach James Galanis signed the outside mid after bringing her in for an evaluation where she played in two preseason games before earning a contract.
D'Agostino played her freshman year in college at Penn State and recorded one assist in nine starts before transferring to Wake Forest for her sophomore year. At Wake, she started all but five games and recorded seven goals with seventeen assists. Her strong collegiate play earned her a call-up to the U.S. Women's National U-23 team.
In her prep career at Loomis Chaffee High School, Bianca was twice named the Connecticut Player of the Year, as well as an NSCAA All-American. Both honors came in 2006 and 2007. Additionally in 2007, she was named a Parade Magazine All-American.
D'Agostino brings more power to a strong Beat midfield, and has a history of being exceptional in fifty-fifty situations. She started in the season opener against the Boston Breakers on Saturday, April 9 at KSU Soccer Stadium where she recorded one shot in the first half before subbing out for Olympian and U.S. Women's National Team member Carli Lloyd. D'Agostino is expected to play multiple positions for the Beat in 2011.
Quotables
Bianca D'Agostino
How do you feel about being in Atlanta'
"I'm really excited about it. I've never been here and I'm loving everything so far. I've heard great things about Atlanta. I'm excited and hoping everything goes well."
What are your thoughts on joining the Beat'
"It wasn't what I was planning on for my first experience in WPS because I was in Philly, but I'm happy I came. I like the team and the coach, and I'm feeling ready for this season."
What is it like to play for Coach Galanis'
"He's a great guy because he's really dedicated to his philosophy and wants to make the team the best it can be. He's been extremely welcoming to me. He's giving everyone a fair chance and we're all improving. We're all fitter and handling the ball better."
What was it like to start in your first WPS match'
"It was fun. It was surprising because I haven't been here long. I was a little nervous which is normal. It was my first pro game ever, but I felt ready and I want to keep it going."
How do you feel that the team is coming together'
"I think the team has been coming together awesome. Since I've been here, everyone's really close. We're all friends; we care about how each other's doing. It's a fun environment and I feel that's our strength over other teams-that we're all friends."
What's it like to play with Heather, Lori, Cat, and Carli'
"It's really cool because we can feed off their experience and its motivating and inspiring to see where they are and what they've done. I'm learning a lot from them."
James Galanis
How did the Beat acquire Bianca'
"Bianca is a player we were looking at when we were conducting research for the draft. We found out that she is a crafty little player with a lot of potential. She was picked up by Philly in the draft. She knew players on our team and had been hearing good things about us. When she was released by Philly she contacted us and we brought her in for an evaluation. She played in two games and fit in well with our playing style so we signed her."
What are some of her strengths'
"As I said she is a crafty little player. She is low to the ground and exceptional at one versus one attacking and distribution."
In game situations, what did you like from her'
"She is versatile and can play both outside mid positions and center mid. She has a really good sense of the game and knows when to slow the game down and when to speed it up."
In training, what do you like about her'
"She has been here for almost two weeks and is beginning to settle down and has become more comfortable. She works hard and is contributing to the already competitive training environment we have in place."
How is she fitting in with the team'
"She has fit right in. No issues at all there. She has a great personality and has blended in with the rest of the squad. It helped a lot that she knew a number of the girls prior to coming to the Beat. She will play both outside mid positions and center mid when needed. She might even see some time up top."
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Women's Professional Soccer Stories from April 13, 2011
- WPS Weekly - Week 1 - WPS
- Allie Long Named WPS Player of the Week - Sky Blue FC
- Long Wins First WPS Player of the Week Honor for 2011 - WPS
- Beat Sign Wake Forest Midfielder - Atlanta Beat
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