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Twelve players with national program ties added to Freedom's W-League roster

May 5, 2009 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
magicJack News Release


BOYDS, Md. (May 5) - The Washington Freedom announced that 12 players with national program ties will join the club's W-League team for the 2009 season. Molly Allen (Virginia Commonwealth University), Becky Edwards (Florida State University), Julie Lancos (Florida State University), Sandra Matute (Virginia Commonwealth University), Tiffany McCarty (Florida State University), Kara Mirarchi (University of North Carolina-Greensboro), Christine Nairn (Penn State University), Jenn Parsons (Virginia Commonwealth University), Toni Pressley (Florida State University), Chante Sandiford (UCLA), Kate Schoepfer (Penn State University), and Brittany Tegeler (University of Connecticut) have been added to the club's roster, with play scheduled to begin in May.

"We could not be happier with the quality that these players bring to the club," Freedom Head Coach Jim Gabarra said. "Having them as the core of the team with their national program experience is a great start in building our 2009 W-League team."

Allen was a member of the U-15 and U-16 Canadian national team pool. Recently, Allen was invited to participate in the Canadian Women's National Team's U-20 tryouts. She previously played for the Boston Renegades U-20 USL team and the Halifax Senior Women NSSL team.

Edwards was a full member of the 2005 U.S. U-17 national team, a part of the U-20 national team that won the silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games, and was on the U-20 World Cup Championship Team. As a freshman at Florida State in 2006, was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team, named to the Top Drawer Soccer National All-Freshman First Team and led her team in assists (8) and game-winning assists (5).

Lancos was a member of the U-15, U-17 and U-20 U.S. national team pools. In high school she was named to the 2007 and 2008 PARADE All-American teams. She was featured in the January 14, 2008 Sports Illustrated edition of Faces in the Crowd. Lancos was named Monmouth County Defender of the Year in 2007 and Player of the Year in 2006.

Matute played on the U-16, U-18 and U-21 French national teams. She is currently coaching for Freestate Soccer Alliance. At VCU, Matute was selected to the All-CAA team, was named a Division I Third Team All-American and was named the 2004 CAA Player of the Year. Matute led the Rams with assists (9), which was the highest single-season total for a VCU player since 1996. She finished third on the Rams' list for career goals (27).

McCarty played for the U-16, U-17 and U-18 U.S. national teams, leading the U-16 team in goals in 2006 and the U-17 team in 2007. She was a member of the Freestate Shooters, where she served as captain. McCarty helped the Freestate Shooters capture the 2007 U.S. Club Soccer national championship. She was a striker for the Washington Freedom W-League team in 2007 and 2008, scoring a goal to help the team win the W-League championship in 2007.

Mirarchi was a massage therapist for the U.S. Women's National Team for three years. At UNC-Greensboro she earned 2001 Southern Conference All-Tournament Team honors. Mirarchi previously competed with the California Storm in the WPSL.

Nairn was a member of the U.S. U-16, U-17, and U-18 national teams and was on the U-20 World Cup Championship team. She was called up to the senior women's national team in January 2008 as the youngest member to attend training camp. Nairn previously played for the Freestate Shooters, an affiliate club of the Washington Freedom. She was named the No. 3 recruit in the country for the 2008 season by Soccer Buzz.

Parsons is a current member of the Canadian Women's National Team pool. She played for the 2008 Washington Freedom W-League team. From 2004-07 Parsons played for the Richmond Kickers Destiny where she earned 2006 and 2007 All-Conference team honors. She was also a 2007 All W-League Team selection and a W-League MVP award finalist. Parsons is the current all-time leader of career goals (58) and career points (131) at VCU.

Pressley was a member of the U-17 and U-18 U.S. national teams and is currently in the U-20 U.S. national team player pool. In 2008, she played for the Boston Renegades of the W-League. In 2006 and 2007, she was the leading scorer for U.S. Youth Soccer Region III. In high school she was named a 2008 Parade and NSCAA/adidas All-American.

Sandiford was a U-17 U.S. national team pool player and is currently a U-20 national team pool player. She previously captained the Bethesda Rapids, an affiliate club of the Washington Freedoom. Sandiford has played for the Washington Freedom youth teams and most recently was a part of the 2008 W-League team. She earned Most Valuable Player of the 2006 USL Super 20 North American Finals.

Schoepfer has been with the U.S. youth national teams, and is currently with the U-23 team. In 2006, Schoepfer earned Big Ten All-Freshman honors. In 2007, she was a Soccer Buzz and NSCAA Second Team All-American. Schoepfer has also earned All-Great Lakes Region, All-Mid-Atlantic Region, and Big Ten honors.

Tegeler was an attendee of youth national camps. In 2008, she was one of 40 players in the nation nominated for the Lowe's Senior Class Award, was selected as a Big East scholar-athlete, and led Connecticut in goals. During her time at Connecticut she earned All-Big East, All-New England, and All-Northeast awards. In the summer of 2007 she played for Tony DiCicco's SoccerplusCT team, which went on to win the U-23 national championship.



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