SOCCERPLUS
CONNECTICUT
TEAM NEWS
LIST OF ARTICLES:
(click title to read
more)
• Florida
State Trio Sign to Play for Reds in 2008
(4/7/08)
• JP
Dellacamera Takes the Lead - From
SoccerAmerica
(4/1/08)
• DiCicco's
Master Degree - From WPS Website
(2/14/08)
• Reds,
City of New Britain Announce New 2008 Home and
Schedule (3/27/08)
• City
is Home to Soccer Team (3/26/08)
- From the Hartford Courant
• Reds
Ink Three Penn State Standouts for 2008 Season
(3/19/08)
• Hathorn
and Walden Back for 2008
(2/27/08)
• Three
Huskies back for 2008 Season
(1/23/08)
• Weimer
"WPSL East Player of the Year" Re-signs with Reds
for '08 (1/23/08)
• Breakers
and Reds announce Partnership
• SoccerPlus
CT REDS 2007 Season Review
• SoccerPlus
CT visits CJSA Convention
• DiCicco
and SoccerPlus CT join WPSL
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Florida State trio to play for Reds
FARMINGTON, CT (4/7/08)
Three players who help Florida State to the NCAA
finals this fall, Amanda DaCosta, Becky Edwards
and Erika Sutton, have committed to play for the
SoccerPlus Connecticut Reds soccer team. The
Reds will compete in their second season in the
Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL), a national
women’s league consisting of 48 teams. The Reds
open up year two with a home game Friday May 9thvs.
the Massachusetts Stingers. This season, all
Reds home games will be played at their new home
venue, Veterna's Memorial Stadium at Willow
Brook Park in New Britain.
Last season, the Reds won the USASA U23 National
Championship, took the Bronze in the USUSA Open
Cup and made the WPSL Playoffs, under the
direction of Wethersfield, Connecticut native
Tony DiCicco.
DiCicco, who led the U.S. Women’s National Team
to the historic 1999 Women’s World Cup title,
also coached the Olympic Gold Medal-Winning Team
in the 1996 Olympics. An ex professional
goalkeeper, he recently was appointed Head Coach
of the U.S. U20 National Team.
“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.”
The professional league DiCicco was referring to
is Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS). WPS is set
to launch in April, 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.”
Amanda DaCosta, as a freshman this year at FSU
played a critical role in the Seminoles trip to
the NCAA Championship game. DaCosta's first year
in a Seminole uniform was quite impressive as
she was named a second team All-ACC honoree and
was a member of the Soccer America All-Freshmen,
ACC All-Freshmen, ACC All-Tournament and NCAA
College Cup Tournament teams. She collected
second team All-America and Freshman All-America
honors as well as being named the Southeast
Region Freshman of the Year by Soccer Buzz.
DaCosta is also on the U.S. U20 National Team,
now also coached by DiCicco, the team is
preparing to compete in the U20 World Cup this
November.
Becky Edwards, earned her second nod on the
All-ACC Academic Team, is a three-time member of
the Dean's List at Florida State and was a
member of the 2007 ACC Academic Honor Roll. This
fall at FSU Edwards started and played in all 27
games for the Seminoles and has made 33
consecutive starts for the Garnet and Gold
dating back to her freshman campaign. The
Downingtown, Pa., native was also named a fourth
team All-American by Soccer Buzz while being
named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District III
first team this year. Edwards is also on the
U.S. U20 National Team.
Erika Sutton, transferred to Florida State from
San Diego State last spring and stepped into
play an important part in the Seminoles trip to
the finals this fall, providing leadership and
speed to the back line. Sutton helped anchor the
defense but also was able to provide some
scoring power as well. Sutton is not totally new
to the Reds as she joined the team last year for
the USASA National Championships.
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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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DiCicco’s
Master’s Degree
By: Karyn Lush | Special to
womensprosoccer.com
(Feb. 14, 2008) – La Serena, Chile certainly
isn’t Boston. But that is where you will
currently find Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco.
Appointed as U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team
Head Coach on Jan. 25, DiCicco is getting his
first look at his new squad, which has its
sights set on the 2008 FIFA Under-20 Women’s
World Cup taking place Nov. 20-Dec. 7 in Chile.
He’s also utilizing this hands-on coaching
experience to prepare for leading the Boston
Breakers in the inaugural 2009 Women’s
Professional Soccer season.
“Whenever you coach at the international level,
it is an education – seeing what other players
and other coaches are doing and how they’re
playing,” said DiCicco. “It’s a great learning
experience. It’s kind of like a master’s course
right before the Breakers season.”
A finalist for the full National Team head
coaching position in the wake of Greg Ryan’s
dismissal, DiCicco was approached by U.S. Soccer
about taking on the U-20s after new U.S. head
coach Pia Sundhage invited former U-20 head
coach Jillian Ellis to be her assistant.
DiCicco didn’t have to think twice about signing
on with the U-20s.
“First of all, to be back in the international
game is something that I’ve missed,” he said.
“To have an opportunity to coach elite players
with high aspirations is a wonderful opportunity
as is coaching in a world championship with the
goal of winning it, especially since we’ve gone
two youth world championships without winning
gold. This gives us a chance to dream big and
go after it.”
Before DiCicco began his first session with the
U-20s, he had some prerequisite work to catch up
on: getting to know the player pool. Phone
calls were placed to a number of college coaches
to gain an understanding of the available
talent. He also consulted with the team’s
assistant coaches under Ellis: Texas Tech Head
Coach Tom Stone, UNLV Head Coach Kat Mertz and
Boise Capitals Director of Coaching Dave Chesler.
“I feel pretty comfortable with the work that
Jill has done over the last couple of years,”
DiCicco said. “What we’re doing now is to try
to see anyone we might have missed. We’re going
to get a pretty good look at the pool.”
After sorting through the available material
cataloguing the players, he sat down with
Sundhage to draft the U-20s’ syllabus.
“We share the same philosophy in a possession
based attack and how we want to play
defensively,” said DiCicco. “This team will
play a number of systems and will probably zero
in on one or two key systems. Pia’s given me
some guidelines, but has also given me a lot of
leeway to prepare this team the way that I would
prepare a team.”
The team’s first true test will come at CONCACAF
Qualifying, which will occur this spring with a
specific location and dates yet to be
announced. A top-three finish will secure a
berth to the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
To prepare for the rigors of qualifying, DiCicco
has brought the U-20s to La Serena, Chile to
contest three matches this week. Already the
U.S. has dispatched England, 1-0, and downed
Norway, 2-1. The U-20s conclude their trip with
a game against the host country on Friday.
Based upon DiCicco’s comments before departing
for Chile, he must be pleased with the positive
results his team has posted thus far.
“Because Europe has a U-19 championship, I
expect those teams will be a little bit ahead of
us in preparation,” he said. “They’ve gone
through a qualifying tournament already and
therefore their set pieces and their player pool
is probably going to be a little more set. It’s
a great opportunity for us to play teams that as
far as preparation is concerned are a little bit
ahead of us. We’ll get to see how we match up
with them tactically, technically and
athletically and how we respond to adversity.”
While the U-20s will remain DiCicco’s top
priority throughout 2008, he will also be
fulfilling player identification
responsibilities with the Breakers and coaching
the SoccerPlus Connecticut Reds in the WPSL, a
national amateur league. His many roles
actually meld well together.
“It’s important for me to see players in
competitive environments,” said DiCicco.
“Having the opportunity to work with the Reds
and observe their games and evaluate players
both for the U-20s and the Boston Breakers is
pretty important. Coaching the U-20s gives me a
great opportunity to identify players both
internationally and domestically, maybe not for
the first WPS draft, but who will clearly be
part of the second draft. So what I’m doing
compliments each other.”
It’s all part of the ongoing education of a
coach.
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Reds, City of New Britain Announce New Home
Schedule, Home Field Announcement
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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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Reds Ink three
Penn State standouts for the summer
FARMINGTON, CT (3/19/08)
Two US youth international players return to the
Reds; local standouts Alyssa Naeher (Seymour,
CT) and Katie Schoepfer (Waterford, CT), joining
them this year is another Penn State star Zoey
Bouchelle (Cockeysville, MD). SoccerPlus
Connecticut Reds women’s amateur soccer team,
coached by Tony DiCicco is entering its second
season in the WPSL (Women’s Premier Soccer
League), the highest level of women’s soccer in
the U.S.
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.
“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 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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Three
Huskies Back for SOCCERPLUS CT REDS
FARMINGTON,
CT (1/23/08)
–Kristen Graczyk, Kristi Lefebvre and Niki Cross
have all rejoined 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.
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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Weimer Back to
Play with SOCCERPLUS CT REDS
FARMINGTON,
CT (1/23/08)
– The 2007 Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL)
East Player of the Year and former Penn State
All-American Tiffany Weimer has rejoined the
SoccerPlus Connecticut Reds women’s amateur
soccer team, coached by Tony DiCicco. The Reds
will compete in their second season in the WPSL,
the highest level of women’s soccer in the U.S.
In addition, the Reds are looking to defend
their 2007 National Championship in the United
States Adult Soccer Association Cup.
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 25th from Noon to 3 pm for an
autograph session at the Farmington Marriott.
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SOCCERPLUS
CT visits CJSA Convention
January 29, 2007
SoccerPlus CT had its Public "Launch" at the
CJSA Convention on Jan 26-27. On Friday
night some of the young stars of SoccerPlus
CT won awards including Lauren Erwin, Bianca
D'Agostino, and Jill Mastroianni. On
Saturday SoccerPlus CT Head Coach Tony
DiCicco and players including Jenn Prozzo,
Tiff Weimer, Kristi Lefebvre and Megan
Jessee signed autographs and gave away free
Team Schedule posters.
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View the Photo Gallery…click
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DiCicco and
SOCCERPLUS CT join WPSL
WPSL action will be coming to
Connecticut
January 22, 2007
SACRAMENTO, CA — One of the
most recognized and respected names in
the world of women's soccer will be
adding their organization to the North
Division of the East Conference of the
Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL)
this upcoming Summer 2007 season. Team
owner and head coach Tony DiCicco will
head SoccerPlus Connecticut, as the
former U.S. Women's National Team coach
and Women's United Soccer Association
(WUSA) commissioner and his staff will
bring high-level women's soccer to
Connecticut.
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Read the full article…more
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