Wethersfield’s DiCicco thinks women’s soccer can thrive in U.S.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 10:25 PM EDT
By KEN LIPSHEZ
New Britain Herald Staff Writer

NEW BRITAIN — Tony DiCicco ardently believes that women’s soccer will succeed on the professional level in its second try.

The Wethersfield native with the grandest women’s soccer credentials in the nation was at the forefront of the WUSA, the first foray into professional play that expired in 2003 after three seasons.

DiCicco returned to local soccer circles Monday night as coach of the Boston Breakers, members of the WUSA who transcended the six-year gap as a charter franchise in the new WPS.

The relaunch was the first attempt at a professional women’s soccer league since the WUSA’s demise, but no one could have known the league would start under the suffocating shroud of a sluggish economy. DiCicco, however, says optimism reigns.

“Surviving in this economy without a lot of sponsorship dollars out there and having to really tighten your belt to make it work, when the economy and sponsorship dollars loosen up, it could be a good thing,” he said. “We’ve had to, as a league, really sharpen the pencil and keep the expenses down because the revenues are going to be down.”

Attendance has been uplifting.

“Ticket sales are good,” DiCicco said. “Everybody’s encouraged by that. Now it’s a case of keeping expenses down and going after the revenue as the economy improves.”

The league reportedly needs to attract between 4,000 and 6,000 per game to achieve success. The Breakers, 3-2-2 in WPS play, have had home crowds of 4,804, 8,031 and 4,241 at Harvard Stadium.

“Boston is the team that looks the brightest from an economic standpoint and we’re working to get our game fully in place,” DiCicco said. “We’ve had glimpses of greatness and now we need to keep evolving.”

The Breakers have an exciting veteran group in legendary midfielder Kristine Lilly, high-scoring forward Kelly Smith and midfielder Angela Hucles. The evolution, DiCicco says, centers around the development of the younger players.

He used Monday’s exhibition against the SoccerPlus Connecticut Reds of the WPSL, whom he founded and coached the last two years, toward that end.

“They need to prove themselves a little bit,” he said.

He expects the WPSL, specifically the Reds in the case of the Breakers, to supply the next wave of professionals. SPCT serves as a Breakers farm team.

“The realities are we’re looking to bring more players from the club to the team, the kids that have come up through our ranks,” he said. “There are six or seven of them here that are playing on our youth clubs.”

A younger WPSL reminds DiCicco of WUSA days.

“The last time this happened, these leagues really benefited from it because now the players know [the WPSL] is a stepping stone to get into the WPS,” he said. “The WPSL and the W League are the way to go.”

College players, he said, generally cannot step right into the WPS and excel.

“For the most part, it’s a huge adjustment for college kids, even if you’ve played international,” he said.

Thus the WPSL, despite a youth movement, continues to bring a high level of women’s soccer into the New Britain area.

BUILDING ON A WIN: The Reds, with virtually no practice time together, were badly outplayed by the New England Mutiny in their WPSL opener Friday but managed to escape with a 1-0 victory.

New coach Christopher Bart-Williams will take it.

“It was huge for the girls’ confidence,” he said. “They know they didn’t play well. They know they weren’t the better side on that day. However, considering that these girls never played together before and only trained as a full squad the night before the game.”

Some of the Reds’ players were unable to fulfill their college responsibilities to begin training before the season.

“A lot of the players were flying in from different colleges and school would have to come first,” Bart-Williams said, “so at times you have kids who have only come in the day before.

“It was pretty exciting for them to have that game, win playing poorly even though they weren’t the better side and now have [the ‘friendly’ against Boston.] It’s wonderful.

The Reds’ next WPSL match is Saturday against the Maine Tides at Husson College. The next home game is June 6 against the Lancaster Inferno.

CCSU, Reds’ Casey named WPSL Co-Player of Week

SoccerPlus CT Reds goalie Caity Casey was named the WPSL Co-Player of the Week Tuesday. Casey, goalie on the CCSU women’s soccer team, made 11 saves in her Reds debut, a 1-0 season-opening win against the New England Mutiny this past Friday.

Casey shared the award with forward Sabrina Demonte of Ajax America, who scored both of her team’s goals in a 2-1 win over the So Cal Crush.

The Reds fell to the WPS’s Boston Breakers 4-0 Monday night. The team’s next WPSL game is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Husson College in Maine against the Maine Tide.

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Ajax America's Sabrina Demonte (L) & SoccerPlus CT's Caity Casey (R) are named WPSL Co-Players of the Week
SACRAMENTO, CA (05/26/09)

This past Memorial Day weekend saw the full slate of matches in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) commence, with teams from coast to coast setting their course towards the 2009 WPSL Final Four hosted by the Long Island Fury at Adelphi University on August 1-2. The defending WPSL National Champions started out as they finished last season - in the win column - and on the other side of the country, a team that lost five starters to Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) rebounded in determined fashion.

Therefore, Ajax America forward Sabrina Demonte and SoccerPlus CT goalkeeper Caity Casey have been named WPSL Co-Players of the Week, in this our first edition of the season-long series of weekly league awards.

F Sabrina Demonte (AJAX AMERICA) - WPSL CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
The defending WPSL National Champions started out 2009 in winning fashion, as the former University of Oregon standout scored two goals for Head Coach Brian Boswell's side in their 3-1 road Pacific-South Division win at league newcomers, the So Cal Rush.

F Jen Leaverton (BAY STATE SELECTS)
The leading scorer from St. John's University of the Big East Conference last fall has started strong this summer, scoring two goals in two matches (9 shots on goal) for Bay State in WPSL East action & was named Offensive MVP in their season opening win over the Maine Tide on May 15th.

F Amanda Malkiewicz (MILLBURN MAGIC)
The Conference USA All-Freshman Team selection at East Carolina scored two goals for Millburn Magic Head Coach Andy Sones in their season-opening WPSL East win over the CDSA Future on May 17th.

MF Kylie Watt (ADIRONDACK LYNX)
The soon-to-be University of North Carolina Tar Heel scored the game-tying goal for Adirondack and then in the 90th minute, assisted on the game-winner in the 2-1 win over Bay State on May 23rd to get the Lynx their first win of the seson.

MF Giuliana Longmire (SAN DIEGO WFC SEALIONS)
The SeaLions midfielder scored on a 35 yard free kick - hitting the upper far corner to start the scoring for San Diego WFC - and helped control the center of the pitch in their season-opening 3-1 victory over West Coast F.C. in Pacific-South Division play.

MF Lisa Zanti (TSC MARYLAND PRIDE)
The former Washington Freedom & West Virginia University star scored a goal and set up the penalty kick game-winner in the team's 3-2 WPSL East road win at the CDSA Future.

MF Erin Clark (NEW ENGLAND MUTINY)
The University of Connecticut standout scored a hat-trick in the Mutiny's win over Maine on May 16th in the first week of action in the WPSL East, and pestered the SoccerPlus CT defense throughout New England's tough 1-0 loss at the "Vet" in New Britain, CT on May 22nd.

D Rebecca Lee (ADIRONDACK LYNX)
The America East Conference All-Rookie Team selection from the University at Albany was named the Defensive MVP in the Lynx's season-opening win at Bay State.

D Tara Corcoran (CLAREMONT STARS)
The Cerritos College defensive stalwart - who were voted DIII NSCAA (non-scholarship) National Champions this past fall - scored the eventual game-winning goal in the team's home-opening Pacific-South Division win over PSSCV-Santa Clarita.

D Valerie Strocco (SAN DIEGO WFC SEALIONS)
The former University of San Diego defender anchored the SeaLions' defense, keeping West Coast F.C. to only one goal - despite a severely bruised foot.

GK Caity Casey (SOCCERPLUS CT) - WPSL CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
The Central Connecticut State goalkeeper was dominate in the air on crosses, faced 29 shots against the New England Mutiny (11 saves) and shut-out last year's East Conference champions in her first start in the WPSL, giving the "Reds" the 1-0 win.

About the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL): The WPSL is a 50-plus team national women's soccer league with five conferences and is considered one of the top amateur women's soccer leagues in the world. You can now keep up with our league on our social networking sites on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com) and LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com)! The Long Island Fury have been selected to host the 2009 WPSL Final Four which will be held at Adelphi University (Garden City, NY) - alongside the Youth Premier Soccer League (YPSL) National Championship that same weekend. The tentative dates are scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, August 1-2 and check back to this website in the coming days & weeks for further information!

The WPSL's mission is to provide the highest level of women's soccer while simultaneously providing affordable, quality family entertainment and positive role models for our youth. For more information, visit our official website at http://www.wpsl.info, phone us at 1-800-854-0913 or contact us via email at media@wpsl.info.

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Boston Breakers are coming to Connecticut to face Reds
Sunday, May 24, 2009 9:59 PM EDT
By ANDREW LOVELL
New Britain Herald Staff Writer

Angela Hucles and Heather Mitts won’t be here but Kristine Lilly, Tony DiCicco and Kelly Smith will be.

The names of those who will be in New Britain tonight read like a who’s-who list of some of the biggest names in the history of United States women’s soccer.

Unfortunately for the SoccerPlus CT Reds, the names also comprise a portion of the WPSL’s Boston Breakers’ roster. The Reds host the Breakers at 6:30 p.m. today at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Reds are coming off a 1-0, season-opening win against the rival New England Mutiny Friday night. Beth Lloyd scored the game’s lone goal off a booming kick from goalie Caity Casey (one assist, 11 saves).

Had it not been for Casey’s NFL punter’s leg and a lucky bounce on the opposite end, the Reds would have, at best, escaped with a tie.

The Mutiny out-shot the Reds by a staggering 29-3 margin, but caught just about every unlucky break imaginable.

Shots ricocheted off the cross bar and posts. Shots flew high and dribbled wide, some by mere inches.

If the Breakers dominate possession as well as the Mutiny did, the Reds likely won’t be as lucky.

Still, Reds coach Chris Bart-Williams emphasized that Monday’s game will be treated as a learning experience, regardless of the final score.

“They’ll come to the game ready to play, but that one [is] uncoachable,” Bart-Williams said. “The Breakers are playing great. For me and these girls it will be more of an exhibition game. People will see good soccer, so that’s what we really want for that game.”

Another factor working against the Reds is that the Breakers enter tonight’s game with seven games already under their belts this season.

Friday’s win against the Mutiny marked the first time Bart-Williams had his entire squad together on one field.

After the Mutiny win, the Reds players were steadfast in their belief that, as the season moves forward, the team will continue to improve and clean up its sloppy play.

Whether that will happen in time to challenge the Breakers tonight remains to be seen. Boston enters the game with a 3-2-2 record (11 points), good for second overall in Women’s Professional Soccer.

They also field a star-studded lineup, including forward Kelly Smith, a two-time FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year finalist. Smith is tied with Brazilian sensation and current member of the Los Angeles Sol, Marta, for the WPS lead in goals with four.

Then there is Lilly, a transcendent talent that ranks among the best ever to touch a soccer ball. Lilly, a Wilton native, has twice been named the U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year. She is the only woman to ever participate in five separate World Cup finals.

She holds the record for caps, soccer slang for “games played.” Lilly is the only player, male or female, to ever reach 300 caps in international play.

And last but not least, tonight will also mark the return of three 2008 Reds – head coach DiCicco, assistant coach Lisa Cole and midfielder Maggie Tomecka.

DiCicco, a Wethersfield native, is perhaps best known for leading the U.S. Women’s National Team to an Olympic gold medal in 1996 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1999.

Cole joined DiCicco on his move to the Breakers, as did Tomecka, who was named to the Breakers as a development player after a preseason tryout.

So tonight’s game will also have a reunion-type feel to it.

Lloyd said the team as a whole is excited, both to play against top-level competition and learn as they do so.

“I’m extremely excited,” Lloyd said. “Just to get a chance to play against the best players in the world really, you take what you can and get the most of it.”

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. tonight. Tickets are $5 for adults and children, though children wearing a SoccerPlus or FSASoccerPLus jersey get in for free.

“It should be a good game because they’re obviously the Boston Breakers,” Casey said.

“We’ll get up for a good game, we’re all excited for it. It should be good.”

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JP Dellacamera, Member of the CT Reds Advisory Board and Host of the CT Reds Media Day

JP takes the lead in MLS TV booth
by Ridge Mahoney, Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008
SoccerAmerica

Longtime play-by-play man JP Dellacamera goes full-time with MLS and U.S. Soccer

How is it that a man whose name is synonymous with soccer broadcasts in the United States is only this year taking over as the lead play-by-play announcer for America's professional league?

Truth be told, JP Dellacamera, selected by ESPN and ABC to handle MLS as well as U.S. Soccer telecasts, has been working MLS games since the league began, but not on a regular basis at the national level. There are five MLS Cups and numerous All-Star Games on his resume, as well as six straight World Cups, the last four Women's World Cups, and the 2004 Olympic Games.

"The MLS package is something I always wanted to do, but for whatever reason, never had it as a full-time assignment," says Dellacamera, who moves into the booth with former U.S. midfielder John Harkes for MLS and national-team telecasts. "Obviously, it's an honor to be chosen."

Most of his MLS work has involved juggling regional broadcasts for the Crew and MetroStars/Red Bulls with other jobs, such as his current gig as voice of the NHL Atlanta Thrashers. It was through hockey he first found employment with the world's game, but not the worldwide version, not at first.

"I was doing minor-league hockey and had been doing it for about 10 years," says Dellacamera of his life in the early 1980s. "It was a lot of travel by bus and not a lot of NHL jobs were opening up. I thought to myself, 'How much longer do I want to be doing this? Maybe there's something else out there.'"

Indoor soccer was that something. Based in Erie, Pa., Dellacamera looked south to Pittsburgh, where Pittsburgh Penguins owner Edward DeBartolo also ran the Pittsburgh Spirit of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

"Indoor soccer and hockey, I thought, were very similar," recalls Dellacamera. "I thought it would get me to a higher level in broadcasting."

It did when Bob Carpenter, the lead announcer for a soccer package owned by Bud Sports, moved on.

"That opened up a soccer position," says Dellacamera, "and that led to the [St. Louis] Steamers, the MISL Game of the Week, and then the national team, and the World Cup."

Every veteran broadcaster can tell horror stories of confusion and chaos roiling off-camera, no matter how slick and polished the televised product may appear. So it proved to be during Dellacamera's first World Cup, the 1986 tournament staged in Mexico. NBC sent Charlie Jones, Rick Davis and Paul Gardner south of the border, but ESPN used commentators in studios watching monitors for the other games.

The cable system had anticipated problems getting transmissions from Mexico, and so it proved to be. National broadcasters around the world were receiving the wrong games, or games voiced in the wrong languages, or both.

"They were just not confident of the technical preparation for that World Cup," says Dellacamera. "They thought it might be worse by actually going there. We did it out of the CBC studios in Toronto and sure enough, wrong countries were getting the wrong feeds. We actually had to call a game we weren't supposed to do, because we didn't get the video feed we were supposed to get.

"The ironic twist of fate was after the first day of games in Mexico, the Canadians who were there wanted to come home, and they couldn't, because we were using their studios."

More than two decades later, the game — and MLS — are staples of ESPN programming. Dellacamera and Harkes worked together at the 2006 World Cup and the former believes he and the latter have formed a solid partnership viewers can appreciate.

"His work ethic is strong and he has a great knowledge of the game, obviously, as an ex-player and Hall of Famer," says Dellacamera. "I thought he did an outstanding job in 2006 and brought a lot to the table. He'll be great in this role."

(This article originally appeared in the April 2008 issue of Soccer America magazine.)

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Reds, City of New Britain Announce New Home
Schedule, Home Field Announcement

William DeMaio (New Britain Parks and Recreation Director), Heather Hathorn (Reds Player), New Britain Mayor Timothy T. Stewart and Tony DiCicco (Reds Head Coach) during the announcement in the Mayor's Conference Room on March 27.

FARMINGTON, CT (3/27/08) – One year ago, the state of Connecticut was introduced to the newest women’s sports franchise in the Nutmeg state, the SoccerPlus CT Reds. With wide eyes in their first year as a member of the Women’s Premiere Soccer League (WPSL), the Reds promptly snatched a playoff spot, took home a National Championship in the U-23 USASA Open Cup and were involved in countless community events throughout the Hartford area.

The 2008 edition of the Reds are aiming to do bigger and better things and it all starts this Thursday at New Britain City Hall. The New Britain Mayor’s Office, in conjunction with the SoccerPlus CT Reds held a news conference at 3PM.

New Britain Mayor Timothy T. Stewart, along with Reds head coach Tony DiCicco and members of his staff unveiled Veteran’s Memorial Stadium at Willow Brook Park as the new home of the Reds for the 2008 season, where Connecticut will begin their home slate in early May, hosting the Massachusetts Stingers.

Veteran’s Memorial Stadium will once again be a soccer venue, as it served as the home of the Connecticut Wolves of the USL through 2002. The facility, part of Willow Brook Park, which also holds Beehive Field and New Britain Stadium, is dedicated to the soldiers of the city of New Britain who have lost their lives in battle.

In addition to news of their new home field, the Reds’ entire 2008 season schedule was released; highlighted by six affairs at their new friendly confines in New Britain.

DiCicco, who is preparing the United States Under-20 Women’s National Team for the U-20 World Cup in Chile this November, recently announced a partnership between the Connecticut Reds and the new Boston Breakers, who will be a member of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), which launches in 2009. DiCicco will begin to roam the sidelines for the Boston franchise at that time.

All announcements during Thursday’s event took place on the second floor of New Britain City Hall in the Mayor’s Conference Room. 

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City Is Home To Soccer Team
Connecticut Reds To Play At Veterans Memorial Stadium From May Through July
By MONICA POLANCO | Courant Staff Writer
March 26, 2008

Veterans Memorial Stadium will be the official home of the SoccerPlus Connecticut Reds women's soccer team for the next several months.

Reds Head Coach, Tony DiCicco paces the field at Veteran's Memorial Stadium at Willow Brook Park in New Britain following the Press Conference with the New Britain City Mayor on March 27. (photo from the Reds)

The team, an affiliate of the Women's Premier Soccer League, will play its second season in Connecticut this summer, competing from May through July.

The arrangement, similar to the city's partnership with the Rock Cats baseball team, is expected to bring the city additional revenue through concession sales and advertising.

The Connecticut Reds will pay the city $600 a game and must purchase a $4,000 sign at Veterans, said William DeMaio, the city's parks and recreation director.

The team will also provide community outreach in New Britain, offering such programs as free soccer clinics.

The city does not own the team, but is renting out the 8,800-capacity stadium.

Soccer teams have been competing at Veterans for the past 24 years, most recently on Sept. 4. On that day, the New England Revolution played the Carolina RailHawks during the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup, drawing more than 5,000 people to New Britain, DeMaio said.

The event netted the city more than $28,000, making it very worthwhile, DeMaio said. The Revolution has expressed plans to return to New Britain.

"I think we were going into it saying, 'We'd love a national event like this to showcase New Britain.' ... To come out ahead was terrific," he said.

The city's latest soccer relationship is nothing like its former acquisition, the Connecticut Wolves. The city bought the team in 1999, but severed ties with it in 2002.

The venture, which was expected to give the former "Hardware City" a new identity, cost taxpayers more than $1.5 million.

The Connecticut Reds, made up of top players from the United States and other countries, will be coached by Tony DiCicco, the former head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team.

DiCicco also coached the 1999 Women's World Cup team that beat China in front of the largest crowd in women's sports history.

"This guy — he's the mack daddy of all soccer," DeMaio said. "You mention Tony DiCicco in soccer circles anywhere in the world, and they know."

DiCicco, who coached teams that played at Veterans as far back as 1991, said he's looking forward to returning to the grass field.

"In our state, it's one of the better venues," he said. "It has a great soccer history."

Contact Monica Polanco at mpolanco@courant.com.

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Alyssa Naeher in just her second year with the Nittany Lions, cemented her position as the nation's top goalkeepers, and earned 2007 first All-America honors. The Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year, she finished the year with a 0.62 goals per game average (best ever by a PSU sophomore and 18th nationally), including a miniscule 0.39 goals against mark in conference play. Naeher came up with the big saves when Penn State needed them, tallying 103 stops and posting a 0.873 save percentage, which was 12th in the nation. A two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, she also earned Soccer America Team of the Week this year and was an Academic All-District selection by ESPN the Magazine. Naeher was honored as a first team All-Big Ten pick, marking her second all-conference award after being named to the league's second team last year. She is Penn State's third goalkeeper to earn All-America honors. Naeher is a member of the US U20 National Team preparing for a Youth World Championship this fall in Chile, that team is also coached by Reds’ Head Coach Tony DiCicco.

Katie Schoepfer comes back home to play for the Reds after a successful season for the Nittany Lions. A first-time All-American, Scheopfer leadi the team in scoring during its Big Ten championship run. A First team All-Great Lakes Region selection Schoepfer hit the back of the net 15 times and added five assists for 35 points on the year, en route to first team All-Big Ten honors. Schoepfer joins a distinguished list of Nittany Lion forwards to be honored as All-Americans, which includes fellow Connecticut Reds teammate Tiffany Weimer (2003, 2004, 2005) and Penn State's only four-time honoree and Hermann Trophy winner Christie Welsh (1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002). Schoepfer is on the US U23 National Team preparing for this summer’s prestigious Nordic Cup.

Zoey Bouchelle was a key piece of the Nittany Lions’ puzzle in the midfield and had her best season to date after avoiding injury for the first time in her college career. Bouchelle played solidly all fall for the Nittany Lions, but really came alive during the Big Ten play. All of Bouchelle's points came in the conference season, including a six-point weekend vs. Michigan and Michigan State that grabbed her national honors from Soccer America and Soccer Buzz in addition to Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week accolades. Bouchelle was a first team All-Big Ten selection this year and is receiving her first All-Region accolade. She also received second team Academic All-America honors this fall after maintaining a 3.87 grade point average as an economics major.

Last season, the Reds won the USASA U23 National Championship, took the Bronze in the USUSA Open Cup and made the WPSL Playoffs. The team looks to improve on their first season’s successes in year two.

Tony DiCicco, who led the U.S. Women’s National team to the 1999 World Cup title, also coached the Gold Medal-winning team in the 1996 Olympics. The US U20 National Team Head Coach will again direct the SoccerPlus CT Reds as they take the field this summer.

Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is set to launch in 2009. DiCicco will be the Head Coach for the Boston Breakers when play begins. For more on WPS visit www.womensprosoccer.com.

After last season’s finish Coach DiCicco had these words to say about the team, “Coaching this team is so exciting for me,” DiCicco said. “Our players are educated, articulate and polite. These are elite players. We have future professionals, current and future national team players and they are fun to coach.  I love being a part of their development and soccer dreams.”

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Hathorn and Walden back for Season
FARMINGTON, CT (2/27/08) – Heather Hathorn and Caroline Walden are back for the SoccerPlus Connecticut Reds women’s amateur soccer team, coached by Tony DiCicco. The Reds will compete in their second season in the WPSL (Women’s Premier Soccer League), the highest level of women’s soccer in the U.S.

Heather Hathorn a star at the University of Maine returns to the Reds after a great start in 2007 Hathorn will again be a force up top for the Reds. Hathorn a forward, set Maine records for career goals (27) and career points (66)... finished second in America East in assists, third in points per game and fourth in goals. Hathorn also works full time for SoccerPlus as the Director of Sponsorships and Marketing, coaches within the FSASoccerPlus club and is the Head Girls Soccer Coach at Loomis Chaffee.

Caroline Walden comes back to the Reds after a stellar year up at Boston College. The Connecticut native (Guilford, CT) comes home to play for the Reds again this season. Walden enjoyed a successful junior season at Boston College, playing a critical role at center back for the Eagles. The Eagles went to the ACC tournament and hosted the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Last season, the Reds won the USASA U23 National Championship, took the Bronze in the USUSA Open Cup and made the WPSL Playoffs. The team looks to improve on their first seasons successes in year two.

DiCicco, who led the U.S. Women’s National team to the 1999 World Cup title, also coached the Gold Medal team in the 1996 Olympics. The US U20 National Team Head Coach will direct the SoccerPlus CT Reds as they take the field again this summer.

“I am very excited about the SoccerPlus Connecticut Reds second season in the WPSL,” said DiCicco. “The WPSL provided an excellent competitive atmosphere for players to be challenged and develop. Our goal remains the same…to win the WPSL Championship; defend our National Championship and help players continue their evolution as they prepare for the professional league re-launch, their college seasons and a future with National Team Programs.”

Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is set to launch in 2009. DiCicco will be the Head Coach for the Boston Breakers when play begins. For more on the WPS visit www.womensprosoccer.com

After last season’s finish Coach DiCicco had these words to say about the team, “Coaching this team is so exciting for me,” DiCicco said. “Our players are educated, articulate and polite. These are elite players. We have future professionals, current and future national team players and they are fun to coach.  I love being a part of their development and soccer dreams.”

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Last season, the Reds won the USASA U23 National Championship, took the Bronze in the USUSA Open Cup and made the WPSL Playoffs. The team looks to improve on their first seasons successes in year two.

DiCicco, who led the U.S. Women’s National team to the 1999 World Cup title, also coached the Gold Medal team in the 1996 Olympics. The US U20 National Team Head Coach will direct the SoccerPlus CT Reds as they take the field again this summer.

“I am very excited about the SoccerPlus Connecticut Reds second season in the WPSL,” said DiCicco. “The WPSL provided an excellent competitive atmosphere for players to be challenged and develop. Our goal remains the same…to win the WPSL Championship; defend our National Championship and help players continue their evolution as they prepare for the professional league re-launch, their college seasons and a future with National Team Programs.”

Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is set to launch in 2009. DiCicco will be the Head Coach for the Boston Breakers when play begins. For more on the WPS visit www.womensprosoccer.com

After last season’s finish Coach DiCicco had these words to say about the team, “Coaching this team is so exciting for me,” DiCicco said. “Our players are educated, articulate and polite. These are elite players. We have future professionals, current and future national team players and they are fun to coach.  I love being a part of their development and soccer dreams.”

Kristen Graczyk, a forward for the University of Connecticut from 2001-04, was an offensive machine for the Huskies as she led the team in goals and scoring all four seasons. She was an All-American in 2003 and 2004. Graczyk was also a four-time all-Big East Conference honoree, Big East Offensive Player of the Year in 2003, Northeast Regional Player of the Year as a junior and senior, Soccer America MVP in 2003, a 2004 MAC Herman Trophy semifinalist (equivalent to the Heisman Trophy for football) and a U-21 National Team member. For her senior year, Graczyk was recognized as a UConn Remarkable Individual in leadership, academics and athletics. Graczyk received her B.A. in Sports Marketing from UConn in May of 2005. Currently at the University of New Mexico as an assistant coach and pursuing her graduate degree in Sport Administration.

Kristi Lefebvre, also a former UConn Player, 2002-2005. Lefebvre, played in 93 games, starting 62. During her time as a husky the team won the Big East Regular Season Championship in 02,04,05 and the Big East Tournament in 02 and 04. Finished the in the NCAA Tournament on the Elite 8 in 02, and took a trip to the final on 03 – finishing as the NCAA Runner Up. In 2005 Lefebvre captained the UConn Team and won the teams MVP honors. Lefebvre now is the assistant coach at Trinity College and is pursuing her masters degree.

Niki Cross, another former Husky from 2003 – 2005. In 2005 Cross began the season at midfield and moved to the backline where she helped the Huskies to a 1.27 goals against average and an 8-3-1 record … named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, the NSCAA All-Northeast First Team, the Soccer Buzz Northeast Regional Second Team and the UConn Classic All-Tournament Team. In 2003 Cross was selected to the All-BIG EAST Freshman Team and honored as a Soccer America Freshman All-American. After just one year as a Husky, Cross had three goals and two assists for eight points… all eight points came in the Huskies’ run through the NCAA Tournament.

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Last season, Weimer finished the season as the WPSL’s leading goal scorer (14) and in point’s (34). She was second in assists (6). Weimer’s highlights in 2007 include being named Connecticut’s top female athlete; participating with the US Under 21 National Team in Alabama where they defeated China and Trinidad & Tobago.

The Big Ten’s all-time leading goal scorer, Weimer was First Team All-Mid Atlantic Region and a Hermann Trophy Semifinalist in 2005. In 2003-04, she was the runner up for the Hermann Trophy after finishing as the nations' No.2 goal scorer.

Next week Weimer will start off the 2008 Season in training camp with the United States Women’s National team.

Weimer on rejoining the Reds, “I’m really excited about signing with the Reds again this year. We had a great inaugural season in 2007 and we look to build upon that. On a personal level being apart of this club and working with Tony I have been able to develop as a player and feel prepared to go on and play at the next level. It is a real privilege to be on this team.”

DiCicco, who led the U.S. Women’s National team to the 1999 World Cup title, also coached the Gold Medal team in the 1996 Olympics. The former Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) commissioner will direct the SoccerPlus CT Reds as they take the field again this summer.

“I am very excited about the SoccerPlus Connecticut Reds second season in the WPSL,” said DiCicco. “The WPSL provided an excellent competitive atmosphere for players to be challenged and develop. Our goal remains the same…to win the WPSL Championship; defend our National Championship and help players continue their evolution as they prepare for the professional league re-launch, their college seasons and a future with National Team Programs.”

Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is set to launch in 2009. DiCicco will be the Head Coach for the Boston Breakers when play begins. For more on the WPS visit www.womensprosoccer.com

After last season’s finish Coach DiCicco had these words to say about the team, “Coaching this team is so exciting for me,” DiCicco said. “Our players are educated, articulate and polite. These are elite players. We have future professionals, current and future national team players and they are fun to coach.  I love being a part of their development and soccer dreams.”

Tiffany Weimer and some of her SoccerPlus CT Reds teammates will be at the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association’s Convention, this Sat., January 25^th from Noon to 3 pm for an autograph session at the Farmington Marriott.

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