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| Teams head out onto the pitch to kick off the NW Division campaign this weekend | Photos: Gerald Barnhart |
First, the composition of the division has gone from six to eight clubs with the Portland Rain (supported by the MLS Timbers last year) closing up shop for good with the Timbers ownership investing in the NWSL Portland Thorns. In their place, two new clubs, Tualatin Hills United SC and the Westside Timbers, joined up to bring the Oregon group to four. The Washington contingent is also now at four with the addition of AC Seattle, an Italian-focused club.
The new composition brought along with it a new postseason format as there will now be a division playoff. The top two clubs each from Washington and Oregon will move onto the postseason with the playoff event hosted by the higher-seeded Washington side in 2013 and Oregon’s top seed playing host to the division championship in 2014.
Three clubs will have new looks in 2013 to varying degrees. Starting with the smallest change, the Spokane Shine have introduced a new color and logo package this year in a season of change that also includes a new home venue and coach. Issaquah SC will be modifying their name to Seattle Reign FC Reserves presented by Issaquah SC, and are reportedly wearing Reign kits with the ISC logo. The biggest change will be the complete brand overhaul from Oregon Rush to Bend FC Timbers, a change elicited by the club becoming a part of the Timbers Alliance that was made official May 1 with the logo and name change.
Club changes for Spokane and Bend were not just cosmetic. The Shine brought in local youth coach Dan Philp to replace the departed Jason Quintero, who left for a position with Moscow United youth club, and Kyle Steinbaugh, the Director of Coaching, stepping aside from the WPSL responsibilities with the February appointment of new Technical Director Tara Erickson, a University of Washington product that has coached at Portland State and the University of Oregon.
FLASHBACK - - > > 2012
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| Final 2012 Standings for the NW Division |
In comparison, Issaquah led the division in goals (27) and the best defense (6 allowed) while finishing two points ahead of Portland, but it was a draw in the season finale against Seattle rival Emerald City that proved most costly. In the end, however, it was Issaquah that travelled to the Western Conference tournament in California when Spokane chose to withdraw from the event due, in large part, to limited remaining player personnel. Issaquah fell in the Western Conference semifinal to the San Diego SeaLions, 2-1, with a goal from Mary Hill in an attempt to rally from two down. It was her first of the year.
Emerald City’s Megan Chapin edged out Trinidad & Tobago international Kennya Cordner for the scoring title in the division with eight goals to the Issaquah striker’s seven. Round out the top five – the only scorers with more than three goals – were Joana Houplin (5, Issaquah), Nicole Strong (5, Portland) and Elizabeth Boon (4, Portland). At the other end of the pitch, it was the Shine finishing with the division’s top shutout tally with six on the season with Issaquah and Emerald City finishing even with four each. The Shine, however, were shutout four times, ranking second on that list with fifth-place Eugene Metro. Issaquah, to no surprise with its prolific offensive efforts, was only blanked once during the campaign.
2013 WPSL NORTHWEST DIVISION TEAM PREVIEWS
AC Seattle PH-America
Giuseppe Pezzano and the Seattle-based OSA Soccer Group (Academy and Consulting) are behind the new team. Pezzano has lofty connections having worked with the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer and ACF Fiorentina of the Italian Serie A and has followed up on his initial promises to bring in a lot of foreign talent from his homeland with, at present count, 15 Italy-born players and a longtime Italian player from Germany.
Proclaiming that he is recognized as one of the most successful women’s coaches in Italy, the club appointed Antonio Cincotta as the head coach of the team in January. In Italy he has won coaching awards, particularly the FIGC Coach of the Year honor after leading Monza to the regular season title in 2012 and was previously named the A2 Championship’s best coach in his first season. He led Milan to promotion to Serie A for its successful 2010-11 season.
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| Slawson joins from rival Issaquah |
Among other local players rounding out the roster are Oregon State’s Jillian Nicks, who has returned from a stint at l’Olympique Lyonnais, and Jaclyn Rudd, a former Emerald City midfielder from Whitman College. They are joined by Southwestern Oregon CC’s Lisa Worden, University of Puget Sound striker Theresa Henle and the Highline duo of goalkeeper Kyla Kitts and Nicole Williams, who also played at Western Washington.
According to Cincotta, some of the key players for the team will be "Viviana Schiavi because she is an Italian National team player; Alia Guagni, an amazing full back from Fiorentina; Alessandra Barreca, a smart midfielder from Napoli; and Jillian Nicks, a strong American forward."
"But these are not the only strong players of AC Seattle because I'm proud of each Italian and American girl. The true strength will be playing together."
Another unknown for the club will be how it handles its unique schedule which features four midweek contests from Tuesday to Thursday, three of them coming on the road.
“My first expectation is to play very beautiful soccer with long possession to (entertain) our supporters”
:: 2013 Roster ::
Pos… Player… College / International… Hometown… Previous
M… Agus, Isabella… … … Cagliari, Italy… ACF Oristano
M… Ambrosetti, Giulia… U17 Italy WNT… … … …
M… Anaclerico, Carmela… … … … … Bari
M… Barreca, Alessandra… Italy WNT / U19 Euro Champ 2008… Genova, Italy… Carpisa Napoli
F… Caffulli, Erika… … … … … …
M… Colle, Elisa… … … Monfalcone, Italy… Chiasiellis
F… Dinneen, Jordan Celeste… New Mexico Highlands / Peninsula College… Anchorage, AK… Alaska Rush (youth 2007… 10)
F… Giacinti, Valentina… U17 & U19 Italy WNT… Bergamo, Italy… Carpisa Napola
D… Guagni, Alia… Italy WNT / U20 WWC in 2004… Florence, Italy… ACF Firenze (Serie A)
F… Henle, Theresa… U Puget Sound… Issaquah, WA… …
M… Kensbock, Caterina… … … Berlin, Germany… Carpisa Napoli Club
G… Kitts, Kyla… Highline CC… Kent, WA… …
G… Leoni, Ilaria… … … Bagno a Ripoli, Italy… ACF Firenze
F… Mamoliti, Francesca… … … Lecco, Italy… ACF Oristano
D… Mazzucchelli, Erica… … … Milano, Italy… Atletico Milano
M… Nencioni, Alessandra… U17 & U19 Italy WNT… Florence, Italy… Issaquah SC / Monza Club (Serie A)
F… Nicks, Jillian… Oregon State… Issaquah, WA… L’Olympique Lyonnais
M… Parrini, Simona… … … Fiesole, Italy… ACF Firenze
D… Pedretti, Valentina… Italy WNT & U17 / U19 WNT… … … Brescia
M… Phonpadith, Sadie… Highline College / NWAACC All… Star… Auburn, WA… Issaquah SC
F… Pinna, Romina… … … Olbia, Italy… Sassari Torres
M… Postiglione, Ester… … … Ponte dell’Olio, Italy… ACF Oristano
G… Pulitano, Alessandra… … … Sanremo, Italy… Sanremo
M… Rudd, Jaclyn… Whitman College… Seattle, WA… Emerald City
F… Salvatori… Rinaldi, Deborah… … … Penne, Italy… ACF Firenze
M… Slawson, Arica… Central Washington / Tacoma CC… Tacoma, WA… Issaquah SC / Sounders Women
M… Sotgiu, Veronica… … … Oristano, Italy… ACF Oristano
- … Williams, Nicole… Western Washington / Highline CC… Tacoma… …
M… Worden, Lisa… Southwestern Oregon CC … Charleston, SC… …
:: 2013 Schedule ::
Sun. June 9 - Spokane vs AC SEATTLE
Thu. June 13 - Emerald City vs AC SEATTLE
Sat. June 15 - AC SEATTLE @ Issaquah
Fri. June 21 - Eugene vs AC SEATTLE
Sat. June 22 - Bend vs AC SEATTLE
Wed. June 26 - AC SEATTLE @ Spokane
Sun. June 30 - Issaquah vs AC SEATTLE
Tue. July 2 - AC SEATTLE @ Tualatin Hills
Wed. July 3 - AC SEATTLE @ Westside
Fri. July 5 - AC SEATTLE @ Eugene
Bend FC Timbers
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| Steinbaugh's group returns a year wiser |
"Maryn Beutler and Kristen Parr had phenomenal years at the University of Oregon and we have four girls from Idaho State University that are coming in and very experienced players," said Steinbaugh about the roster. "We expect to really compete in all games this year. We were outmatched all of last year but we had all youth players."
Though the brand of the team and club has completely changed, the difference-making decision was the addition of new coach Tara Erickson.
A three-time team MVP at Washington (1992-95) while leading the program to its first two NCAA tournament appearances, Erickson continued her playing career with stints with FSV Frankfurt and the W-League Seattle Sounders Women. Meanwhile, she also began her foray into coaching as Washington assistant before moving on three years later as the head coach for Portland State, where she spent four years before she was named University of Oregon head coach – all while serving various positions with the Washington, Oregon and Regional ODP and national team coaching staffs. Erickson departed UO in 2012, leaving as the program’s winningest coach having tallied a 70-71-18 overall record and 20-46-10 conference mark from 2005-12, however, never saw her team reach the NCAA tournament in a conference dominated by the California schools.
Erickson’s history and contacts, however, are leading to a major change for the club’s WPSL side heading into 2013 with a number of players joining the team from Oregon and Idaho State, the Big Sky Champions from last fall. Returning to Bend for the summer are Duck midfielder Maryn Beutler, forward Kristen Parr and midfielder/forward Allie Cummins.
Beutler and Parr accounted for four of the team’s five goals a year ago for the Rush, each scoring twice. Molly McCool, also back on the squad, tallied the fifth.
Also returning home to Bend is Hayley Estopare, who made 11 appearances as a freshman at Arizona. The ISU contingent is led by goalkeeper Sheridan Hapsic, who started 15 of her 19 appearances last fall as a freshman and led the team to a three-way tie for the conference title in the regular season and won the postseason tournament. She finished the year with a 1.14 GAA and was 8-4-3 with three shutouts.
:: 2013 Roster ::
Pos… Player… College / International… Hometown
M… Beutler, Maryn… Oregon… Bend, OR
D… Bice, Tara… Idaho State… Broomfield, CO
D… Booster, Maddy… Seattle Pacific… Bend, OR
D… Carrillo, Mikaela… Idaho State… San Clemente, CO
M/F… Cummins, Allie… Oregon… Bend, OR
F… DeRocher, Shelby… Grants Pass HS…
D… Estopare, Hayley… Arizona… Bend, OR
G… Estopare, Rachel… Summit HS… Bend, OR
M… Gochnour, Madeline… Idaho State… Salt Lake City, UT
G… Hapsic, Sheridan… Idaho State… San Clemente, CA
F/M… Higgins, Zoe… Sandy HS… Sandy, OR
- … McCool, Molly… …
F… Parr, Kristen… Oregon… Bend, OR
D… Stewart, Elizabeth… Sisters HS… Sisters, OR
:: 2013 Schedule ::
Fri. May 31 - BEND @ Eugene
Fri. June 7 - BEND @ Westside
Sat. June 8 - BEND @ Tualatin Hills
Wed. June 12 - Eugene vs BEND
Wed. June 19 - Westside vs BEND
Sat. June 22 - BEND @ AC Seattle
Sun. June 23 - BEND @ Issaquah
Sat. June 29 - Emerald City vs BEND
Sun. June 30 - Spokane vs BEND
Sat. July 6 - Tualatin Hills vs BEND
Emerald City FC
With a lot of change around them, Emerald City marches on looking to improve on last year’s campaign. Led by head coach Niki Taylor, the club has many of its top players returning in 2013, including the division’s leading scorer Megan Chapin and Casey Berrier, who Taylor says “looks sharp after a year of playing in Finland and tryouts in the NWSL.” Another top player back in the fold is centerback Stine Shoening from the University of Washington.
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| A lot of familiar faces for coach Taylor |
The team features players from colleges throughout the Northwest in addition to the five from Washington and the fellow schools from the area such as Seattle University and Seattle Pacific. The Gonzaga duo of Cricket Harber and Tori Lee are returning home for the summer and the University of Montana’s Erin Craig, who also spent time on trials with the NWSL this spring after earning the Big Sky co-Offensive MVP honor while leading the Grizzlies to a share of the regular season title, is joining the club.
From a little further away, though, is the Serbian women’s national team duo of midfielder/forward Marina Nesic and defender Indira Ilic. Taylor, who is hoping to reach the division playoffs and qualify for the Western Conference tournament, described UNC-Chapel Hill’s Nesic as a “dangerous attacking player with a high work rate” and called Ilic “tough in the tackle and in the air.”
:: 2013 Roster ::
Pos… Player… College / International… Hometown… Previous
M… Bennett, Kathryn… Washington… Bellevue, WA…
D… Berrier, Casey… Loyola U of Chicago… Chesterfield, MO… PK35 Vantaa (Finland)
D… Bos, Lindsey… Washington… Snohomish, WA…
M/F… Brawner, Caroline… Colgate … Mill Creek, WA…
G… Burns, Tori… Washington… Oakland, CA…
M… Chapin, Megan… Western Washington / WSU… Seattle, WA… PK35 Vantaa (Finland)
M/F… Coluccio, Sarah… Seattle U… Seattle, WA…
F… Craig, Erin… Montana… Great Falls, MT…
G… Engel, Ashley… St Martins… Burien, WA…
F… Galaz, Marina… Iowa Western CC… Madrid, Spain… Pegaso Tres Cantos (Spain)
D… Harber, Cricket… Gonzaga… Seattle, WA…
M… Holm, Emma… Seattle Pacific… Kirkland, WA…
D/M… Hostetler, Kelly… Columbia… Richland, WA…
D… Huegli, Carlin… Central Florida… Edmonds, WA…
M… Ilic, Indira… Iowa Western CC… Jagodina, Serbia… FC Keflavik (Iceland) / Serbia WNT
M/D… Jones, Samantha… Southern Illinois at Edwardsville… Florissant, MO…
F… Karlsson, Caroline… Southwest Baptist U… Kalix, Sweden… Assi IF
M… Kraft, Kiana… Seattle U… Kent, WA…
M/F… Lee, Tori… Gonzaga… Kirkland, WA…
D… Marder, Maya… Columbia… Kirkland, WA…
F… Moore, Laura… Seattle Pacific… Kent, WA…
- … Nelson, Karley… Grand Canyon / Iowa Western CC… Orem, UT… FC Keflavik (Iceland)
F… Nesic, Marina… UNC Chapel Hill… Koceljeva, Serbia…
D… Page, Shayla… Seattle Pacific… Redmond, WA…
G… Ruiz, Liz… Boise State… Boise, ID…
D… Schoening, Stine… Washington / UNC Greensboro… Woodinville, WA…
M… Skogrand, Ali… Southwest Baptist U… Meridian, ID…
M… Thomas, Annie… Seattle Pacific… Lake Stevens, WA…
M… Thomas, Heather… Seattle U… Woodinville, WA…
- … White, Ashlyn… … … Club Caz Elite
F/M… Zevenbergen, Hillary… Washington… Woodway, WA…
:: 2013 Schedule ::
Fri. May 31 - EMERALD CITY @ Issaquah
Sun. June 2 - Westside vs EMERALD CITY
Sat. June 8 - EMERALD CITY @ Spokane
Thur. June 13 - EMERALD CITY @ AC Seattle
Sat. June 15 - Spokane vs EMERALD CITY
Sun. June 23 - Tualatin Hills vs EMERALD CITY
Sat. June 29 - EMERALD CITY @ Bend
Sun. June 30 - EMERALD CITY @ Eugene
Fri. July 5 - AC Seattle vs EMERALD CITY
Sun. July 7 - Issaquah vs EMERALD CITY
Eugene Metro FC Azul
Steady as she goes, the club is the one constant in a state that has seen a dramatic overhaul in the division with two new teams and a revamped rival in Bend. Though the Azul only had one goal scorer tally more than two on the season a year ago, eight players accounting for 10 of their 15 total goals are back in blue for head coach Jurgen Ruckaberle, who feels the year of experience in the collegiate ranks over the past year should help propel them in contending for one of the two playoff states from the state.
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| Ruckaberle feels positive about improved squad |
“We have a good number of players returning from last year. They all have a freshman year of college soccer under their belts and will help us to be more consistent,” he added, noting the team will also see a number of players back from the club’s U18 squad, a finalist in the Oregon State Cup.
Eugene’s roster will feature eight University of Oregon, including midfielder Darcie Hill, who previously played for the Portland Rain. Ruckaberle was also able to acquire the services of a pair of Italian Serie A (Riviera di Romagna) players, forward Gaia Mastrovincenzo and midfielder Eleonora Petralia, that Ruckaberle says “will add experience and international flair to our team.”
One item that could play a factor is the team’s schedule. After playing host to one of the two games on the opening night of the division, the club goes on the road for the next five games before wrapping up the campaign with four home fixtures.
:: 2013 Roster ::
Pos… Player… College / International… Hometown… Previous
F… Apo, Tahne… Cal State-LA / Oregon… Eugene, OR…
- … Boyer, Taylor… Oregon… Springfield, OR…
- … Casey, Caitlin… Wisconsin… Waukesha, WI…
D/M… Castillo, Caitlin… Pacific U… Eugene, OR…
- … Chang-Northway, Holly… … …
M/F… Cooney, Emma… Portland State… Eugene, OR…
M… Dennehy, Tara… Wisconsin-Eau Claire… Eugene, OR…
F… Ficek, Tayler… Clackamas CC… Eugene, OR…
D… Hill-Gardner, Darcie… Oregon… Bellingham, WA…
M… Jensen, Erica… UNLV / Cal St Fullerton… Las Vegas, NV…
F… Jobanek, Caitlyn… Western Washington… Springfield…
D… Lindeman, Gabbie… Oregon… Lake Oswego, OR…
F… Mastrovincenzo, Gaia… … Osimo, Italy… Riviera di Romagna (Italy)
M… Meier, Erica… UNLV… Longmont, CO…
- … Meza-Wynkoop, Jolynn… … …
F… Miner, Shaylee… Oregon… Junction City, OR…
G… Nord, Elise… San Diego State… Junction City, OR…
D… Petralia, Eleonora… … Ferrara, Italy… Riviera di Romagna (Italy)
- … Ray-Rouse, Mecca… … …
D… Schulz, Ashlee… Oregon… Springfield, OR…
F… Silsby, Jaclyn… Colorado College… Albany, OR…
D… Smith, Hannah… Concordia… Spokane, WA…
F/M… Specht, Marisa… Linfield College… Eugene, OR…
G… Steele, Abby… Oregon… Santa Rosa, CA…
F… Strawn, Brooke… Oregon… Roseburg, OR…
:: 2013 Schedule ::
Fri. May 31 - Bend vs EUGENE METRO
Wed. June 12 - EUGENE METRO @ Bend
Sat. June 15 - EUGENE METRO @ Tualatin Hills
Sun. June 16 - EUGENE METRO @ Westside
Fri. June 21 - EUGENE METRO @ AC Seattle
Sat. June 22 - EUGENE METRO @ Issaqauh
Sat. June 29 - Spokane vs EUGENE METRO
Sun. June 30 - Emerald City vs EUGENE METRO
Sat. July 6 - Westside vs EUGENE METRO
Sat. July 7 - Tualatin Hills vs EUGENE METRO
Seattle Reign Reserves presented by Issaquah SC
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| Cordner's return almost guarantees offense |
In all, have six of their goal scorers, accounting for 16 of their 27 tallies, back in the mix in 2013, but have lost Alessandra Nencionni (2) and Arica Slawson (2) to newcomers AC Seattle.
Also back for the club fresh off of winning the FA Cup with Aston Villa is midfielder Erin Vaughn, who is also bringing Aston Villa teammate Emma Follis, a native of Indiana.
:: 2013 Roster ::
Pos… Player… College / International… Hometown… Previous
D… Allen, Caitlin… UNLV… San Diego, CA…
G… Beauchamp, Alyssa… Western Washington… Vancouver, WA…
D… Boyd, Molly… Washington… Seattle, WA…
F… Cordner, Kennya… Young Harris College… Plymouth, Tobago… T&T WNT
D… Cummins, Stephanie… Northwest U… Renton, WA…
D… Diaz, Alexa… Seattle Pacific… Burien, WA…
F… Drummond, Brenna… Queens Univ… Sammamish, WA…
D… Dubeau, Frederike… Cleveland State… Kent, WA…
F… Edwards, Candace… Shorter College… Mt St George, Tobago… T&T WNT
M… Follis, Emma… … Birmingham, England… Aston Villa
M… Harrison, Macy Jo… UNLV… Napa, CA…
D… Hauck, Taylor… Seattle Pacific… Shoreline, WA…
M… Hayman, Kristin… Gonzaga… Redmond, WA…
M/D… Hill, Mary… Seattle U… Mercer Island, WA…
M… Houplin, Joana… Western Washington… Olympia, WA…
G… Hultin, Katie… Washington State… Denver, CO…
D… Karas, McKenzie… Washington… Las Vegas, NV…
M… Oliver, Jessica… Northwest U / Bellevue College… North Bend, WA…
M… Perez, Amanda… Washington… San Mateo, CA…
D… Porter, Samantha… Northwest U… Gresham, OR…
D… Rowe, Bree… Oregon… Federal Way, WA…
M… Shimada, Jami… Sacramento State… Bellevue, WA…
G… Smallidge, Briana… Seattle U… Port Orchard, WA…
F… Softli, Jaclyn… Washington… Sammamish, WA…
G… Thode, Alexis… Washington State… Bothell, WA…
M… Vaughan, Erin… … Newport, Wales… Aston Villa
F… Wall, KaUa… Hawaii Pacific U… Kealakekua, HI…
:: 2013 Schedule ::
Fri. May 31 - Emerald City vs SRR ISSAQUAH
Sat. June 8 - SRR ISSAQUAH @ Westside
Sun. June 9 - SRR ISSAQUAH @ Tualatin Hills
Fri. June 14 - Spokane vs SRR ISSAQUAH
Sat. June 15 - AC Seattle vs SRR ISSAQUAH
Sat. June 22 - Eugene vs SRR ISSAQUAH
Sun. June 23 - Bend vs SRR ISSAQUAH
Sun. June 30 - SRR ISSAQUAH @ AC Seattle
Tue. July 2 - SRR ISSAQUAH @ Spokane
Sun. July 7 - SRR ISSAQUAH @ Emerald City
Spokane Shine
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| Conway will likely be a team leader |
Scottish youth international Lisa Robertson is enjoying a breakout campaign in the SPL with league power and UEFA Champions League side Glasgow City and standout defender Maggie Schrader has joined the W-League Sounders Women, leaving big holes to fill. Key returning players for the squad, though, are defenders Chelsie Breen (Idaho) and Allison Jordan (New Mexico-Highlands) along with Jami Hegg, who is taking on a more central role for the Shine in comparison to her centerback responsibilities at Whitworth.
Returning to her hometown, however, is striker Julia Moravec, who started 18 of 20 games as a freshman at Seattle University last fall and tallied two goals and an assist.
“Definitely going forward, like I said creating a lot of chances,” new head coach Dan Philp said of his expectations of things ahead. “I think we are going to score goals against everyone as long as we can shore up the back a little bit, manage to get everyone used to playing with each another and then we'll be good to go.”
:: 2013 Roster ::
Previous Story / Roster Here [+]
:: 2013 Schedule ::
Sat. June 1 – Westside Timbers vs SHINE
Sat. June 8 – Emerald City FC vs SHINE
Sun. June 9 – SHINE @ AC Seattle
Sat. June 15 – SHINE @ Seattle Reign Reserves
Sun. June 16 – SHINE @ Emerald City FC
Sat. June 22 – Tualatin Hills United SC vs SHINE
Wed. June 26 – AC Seattle vs SHINE
Sat. June 29 – SHINE @ Eugene Metro FC
Sun. June 30 – SHINE @ Oregon Rush
Fri. July 5 – Seattle Reign Reserves vs SHINE
Tualatin Hills United SC (THUSC) Diamonds
Born from a 25-year-old youth club, the THUSC Diamonds are a new club in the league and are led by Tom Atencio, a product of CSU-Fullerton that has been coaching since the 1980s and recently joined the US Club Soccer Board of Directors.
With an additional week until their opener compared to others in the division, the expanding youth club is already starting to come together with players from the state’s top schools with multiple players each from Oregon State and Portland State as well as University of Portland product Jennifer Tuttle, who played for the Portland Rain previously.
Eryn Brown and Kayla Henningson helped lead Portland State to a three-way tie for the Big Sky’s regular season title last fall.
Another player that could be a key playmaker is former Oregon Duck Jennifer Stoltenberg, who finished her collegiate career as the program’s all-time leader in assists and was drafted in the second round (ninth overall) by the Philadelphia Independence in 2011 before signing with the W-League Vancouver Whitecaps, where she was one of only five players on the team to play all 14 games, tallying a goal and assist along the way. Oregon State midfielder Erin Uchacz of BC is also a former Whitecap, but never saw any W-League action in three seasons, primarily playing for the club’s youth teams, including the 2010 PCSL Premier Women’s regular season championship and league cup campaigns for the U18 Prospects.
:: 2013 Roster ::
Pos… Player… College / International… Hometown… Previous
- … Beard, Elianna… St Mary’s Academy HS… Portland, OR…
F/M… Brown, Eryn… Portland State… Camas, WA…
D… Chance, Aliyah… … Portland, OR…
D… Coon, Taylor… … Portland, OR…
F… Creamer, McKayla… … …
M… Dawson, Brandi… Oregon State… Gaston, OR…
F… Hatch, Karin… Pacific Lutheran… Portland, OR…
F… Henningsen, Kayla… Portland State… Beaverton, OR…
M… Lechelt, Shanna… Northern Arizona… Beaverton, OR…
G… Luty, Taylor… Sunset HS… Portland, OR…
M… McMillan, Jadyn… Westview HS… Portland, OR…
D/M… Rohde, Emily… Portland State… Lake Oswego, OR…
M/F… Shoquist, Jillian… Arizona State… Lake Oswego, OR…
F… Stoltenberg, Jennifer… Oregon… Mission Viejo, CA… Vancouver Whitecaps
F… Tuttle, Jennifer… U of Portland… Cupertino, CA… Portland Rain
M… Uchacz, Erin… Oregon State… Port Coquitlam, BC… Vancouver Whitecaps
M… Van Steenberge, Sydney… Perrydale HS… Perrydale, OR…
:: 2013 Schedule ::
Sat. June 8 - Bend vs THUSC
Sun. June 9 - Issaquah vs THUSC
Fri. June 14 - Westside vs THUSC
Sat. June 15 - Eugene vs THUSC
Sat. June 22 - THUSC @ Spokane
Sun. June 23 - THUSC @ Emerald City
Sat. June 29 - THUSC @ Westside
Tue. July 2 - AC Seattle vs THUSC
Sat. July 6 - THUSC @ Bend
Sun. July 7 - THUSC @ Eugene
Westside Timbers
Better timing. When Director of Coaching Stan Rodriguez brought a team into the league in 2009, he proved to be just a little ahead of his time. To say things have changed would be an understatement.
“I ran a team back in 2009 in the area and we had success. We were the only Northwest team at the time,” Rodriguez said. “I enjoyed the league, so when we had a better option than before in terms of our own Northwest division and less travel and better budget we decided that the time is now to come in. The league is very strong and it has a great following.”
The roster includes a pair of former US youth internationals from the University of Portland in midfielder Ellen Parker and Natalie Budge. Amanda Dutra, who scored twice last year for the Portland Rain, leads a significantly sized contingent from Portland State, which took a share of the Big Sky regular season conference title last fall. Along with Cori Bianchini, Melissa Bishop, Ariana Cooley and Kajsa Sporseen, the group accounted for 54 starts, six goals and seven assists during the PSU campaign last fall. Dutra, a Portland Thorns reserve, was called in as part of an amateur trio to the team’s camp Friday to be available for NWSL action Saturday, June 1 due to players out for international duty.
Meanwhile, sophomore forward Erin Huisingh helped Concordia dominate the Cascade Collegiate Conference yet again, starting all 22 matches and tallying three goals and three assists.
In addition to picking up Dutra from the Rain, the Westside Timbers landed Rain goal scorers Whitney Pitalo (3 goals) and Aurora Bodenhamer (1) as players made new commitments after the team’s departure.
“We also have Kelsey Moe, a solid defender from University of San Francisco,” said Rodriguez. “Our roster will be rotating with many different players, but we have a great nucleus that should compete very well.”
And what are his expectations in the first year back? “To be competitive. I know its cliche, but we are here to offer the women of this area another platform to continue playing after their club years are over or they are home from college. We want to win of course but we enjoy competition the most.”
:: 2013 Roster ::
Pos… Player… College / International… Hometown… Previous
M/F… Bianchini, Cori… Portland State… Hillsboro, OR…
D… Bishop, Melissa… Portland State / EWU… Portland, OR…
M… Bodenhamer, Aurora… … Brush Prairie, WA… Portland Rain
M… Budge, Natalie… U of Portland… Tualatin, OR… Portland Rain
D… Carlie, Davis… Baylor… Dallas, TX…
M… Cooley, Ariana… Portland State… Gresham, OR…
M… Dutra, Amanda… Portland State… Sherwood, OR… Portland Rain
G… Franklin, Nicole… Concordia… Hillsboro, OR…
D/M… Gardner, Hanna… UNC Chapel Hill… Chapel Hill, NC…
D/M… Greene, Kelsey… Northwest U… Sherwood, OR…
G… Haluska, Angela… Portland State… Clackamas, OR…
G… Heaberlin, Bryane… UNC… Chapel Hill… St Petersburg, FL…
M/F… Huisingh, Erin… Concordia… Pasco, WA…
D/M… Jonsson, Annie… U Puget Sound… Portland, OR…
M… Kanable, Ariel… Concordia… Beaverton, OR…
D/M… Misi, Madison… … …
F… Moe, Kelsey… San Francisco… Salem, OR…
M… Parker, Ellen… U of Portland… Paradise Valley, AZ…
F… Pitalo, Whitney… Southern Cal… Salem, OR… Portland Rain
M/D… Russell, Alissa… Portland State… Silverdale, WA…
D/M… Sporseen, Kajsa… Portland State… Kirkland, WA…
F… Thompson, Emily… Lewis & Clark College… Hood River, OR…
M… Wallberg, Lauren… California Baptist U… Portland, OR…
:: 2013 Schedule ::
Sat. June 1 - WESTSIDE TIMBERS @ Spokane
Sun. June 2 - WESTSIDE TIMBERS @ Emerald City
Fri. June 7 - Bend vs WESTSIDE TIMBERS
Sat. June 8 - Issaquah vs WESTSIDE TIMBERS
Fri. June 14 - WESTSIDE TIMBERS @ Tualatin Hills
Sun. June 16 - Eugene vs WESTSIDE TIMBERS
Wed. June 19 - WESTSIDE TIMBERS @ Bend
Sat. June 29 - Tualatin Hills vs WESTSIDE TIMBERS
Wed. July 3 - AC Seattle vs WESTSIDE TIMBERS
Sat. July 6 - WESTSIDE TIMBERS @ Eugene
#INWsoccernews
