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NWSL Sky Blue FC

Sky Blue FC Allocated Six National Team Players

January 3, 2014 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Sky Blue FC News Release


MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Jan. 3, 2014) - Sky Blue FC has officially been allocated six National Team players for its 2014 roster. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) announced on Friday the official list of allocated players for the 2014 NWSL season. The six players allocated to Sky Blue FC include Christie Rampone, Jill Loyden, and Kelley O'Hara from the U.S. National Team, Monica Ocampo from the Mexico National Team, and Sophie Schmidt and Jonelle Filigno from the Canada National Team.

"Our allocation of Ocampo, Schmidt, Filigno, Loyden, O'Hara, and Rampone, like last season, is a balanced and quality allocation," said Sky Blue FC head coach Jim Gabarra. "This core, if healthy, gives us the ability to put Sky Blue FC back on the top of the table and be a factor in the NWSL Championship."

Rampone, the U.S. National Team captain, returns to Sky Blue FC after a tremendous 2013 NWSL campaign in which she was selected to the NWSL Best XI. The New Jersey native is currently the second most-capped player in U.S. history and the most-capped active player in the world with 287 career games played.

Goalkeeper Jill Loyden competed in four matches for Sky Blue FC during the 2013 season after returning from a left hand injury suffered prior to the season. Loyden, from Vineland, N.J., earned her first call-up to the U.S. National Team in 2010. Kelley O'Hara's 2013 NWSL campaign was cut short due to an ankle injury early in the season. O'Hara made 12 appearances for Sky Blue FC last season, and notched three assists. The 2009 Hermann Trophy winner during her senior year at Stanford University has 40 caps for the U.S. National Team.

Forward Monica Ocampo had a very strong 2013 NWSL season, as she led Sky Blue FC in goals scored with eight, and also tallied two assists. Ocampo was voted the NWSL Player of the Month for August, a month in which she scored three goals in three games played, including the game-winning goal against the Washington Spirit in a 1-0 victory on Aug 3.

From the Canada National Team, Sky Blue FC has been allocated Sophie Schmidt and Jonelle Filigno. Midfielder Sophie Schmidt appeared in 20 matches for Sky Blue FC during the 2013 season, and scored seven goals and notched one assist. Jonelle Filigno joins Sky Blue FC after a decorated career at Rutgers University. Filigno leaves Rutgers in first place in school history with 17 game-winning goals, fourth in school history with 33 goals and 79 points. She tallied eight goals and three assists during her 2013 senior season, and was named American Athletic First Team All-Conference. The Mississauga, Ontario native has made 55 appearances with the Canada National Team, scoring 10 goals.

"Jonelle is a great fit for Sky Blue FC," stated Jim Gabarra. "We look forward to getting started with her on our roster."

Sky Blue FC President and General Manager Tony Novo was pleased with the allocation. "Sky Blue FC had a strong campaign in 2013. We are excited about now having the quality and experience on the field to bring a championship back to New Jersey in 2014," said Novo.

A total of 50 allocated National Team players will be participating in the upcoming NWSL season with 26 Americans, 16 Canadians and eight Mexicans. To see the full list of NWSL club-by-club allocations, please click here.

U.S. Soccer is subsidizing the salaries of 26 players, while the Canadian Soccer Association and the Federation of Mexican Football will do the same for 16 and eight players, respectively.

From Jan. 3-6, the NWSL will have a league-wide "trade period" during which all NWSL teams may make trades throughout the four days. However, teams will not be allowed to waive players currently on their roster until after the NWSL Expansion Draft.



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