Wambach, De Vanna among latest Freedom signings

BOYDS, Md. (March 26) – Having announced its full roster for the opening of the 2009 WPS season, the Washington Freedom announced today forward Abby Wambach, forward Lisa De Vanna, defender/midfielder Jayme Leigh Cargnoni, defender/midfielder Kristin DeDycker, defender/midfielder Madison Keller, defender/midfielder Joanna Lohman, defender Christen Karniski and goalkeeper Kati Jo Spisak have signed with the team.

“It’s exciting to finalize these players in what has been a very long signing process,” Freedom Head Coach Jim Gabarra said. “We have been very pleased with our whole team this preseason and having Abby Wambach has proven to be as important as we thought when she was allocated last September.”

Wambach returns to the Freedom after having played with the team during the 2002-03 seasons of the WUSA, where among the many honors she received she was Rookie of the Year in 2002 and tied with teammate Mia Hamm as the league’s leading scorer in 2003.

De Vanna, from Perth, Australia, is the third international player to sign with the Freedom and is widely recognized as one of the top forwards in the world. De Vanna was the leading scorer for Swedish club AIK in 2008 and scored four goals for Australia’s national team in the 2007 Women’s World Cup.

Along with seven of the players currently on the roster, Keller, Karniski and Spisak all have experience with Gabarra and the Freedom as they previously played on the team’s W-League squad. Keller and Karniski played for the Freedom in 2008 while Spisak played from 2007-08, helping the team win the W-League championship in 2007.

Lohman, from nearby Silver Spring, Md., has seven caps with the U.S. Women’s National Team and left Penn State University as a two-time finalist for the M.A.C. Hermann trophy (awarded to the nation’s top college soccer player) and three-time NSCAA All American selection.

Cargnoni, a three-year starter at Wake Forest, was second among defenders in assists in the ACC in 2005 and was a starter for the 2007 W-League Western Conference champion San Diego Sunwaves.

Like Wambach, DeDycker is a former WUSA player having played for the Atlanta Beat in 2003. As a player at the University of Denver, DeDycker was a two-time NSCAA All American selection.

These signings fill out the team’s 22 player roster, which includes four developmental players, before the Freedom plays in the WPS Inaugural Match on Sunday against the Los Angeles Sol at 6 p.m. ET at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

TRANSACTION
Women’s Professional Soccer
WASHINGTON FREEDOM-Signed F Abby Wambach, F Lisa De Vanna, D-M Jayme Leigh Cargnoni, D-M Kristin DeDycker, D-M Madison Keller, D-M Joanna Lohman, D Christen Karniski and GK Kati Jo Spisak

Courtesy of: Washington Freedom

CHICAGO RED STARS AND THE GLOBE PUB ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

Bridgeview, IL (March 26, 2009) – The Chicago Red Stars and The Globe Pub have formed a partnership, uniting Chicago’s newest professional sports franchise and the best soccer bar in the United States, as named by USSoccer.com in 2007 and 2008.  The partnership will provide soccer fans in the Windy City a way to interact with Red Stars players and transportation options to matches at TOYOTA PARK.

“The Red Stars are excited to partner with a pub known worldwide for catering to soccer fans,” said Red Stars General Manager Marcia McDermott.  “There’s no better place in Chicago to watch the inaugural WPS match than at The Globe.”

The Red Stars will kick off the inaugural season of Women’s Professional Soccer at The Globe on Sunday, March 29^th with a viewing party for the first WPS match.  Fans of all ages can sit alongside the Red Stars players to watch the WPS season get underway as the Washington Freedom and Los Angeles Sol meet on the pitch at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.  The match begins at 5:00 pm, but the festivities will commence at 4:00 pm.  Chicago Soccer will join in the party with a t-shirt giveaway before and during the match, and Red Stars prizes will be raffled off throughout.

“The team is very excited about the start of WPS,” said Red Stars Head Coach Emma Hayes. “We hope our fans will come and join us in what is a historic occasion at our home pub, the Globe.”

In addition, Chicago Red Stars season ticket holders will be able to pick up their season ticket packages at the viewing party.

The Globe will also host a viewing party every Sunday night of the regular season for WPS Sunday on FOX Soccer Channel (FSC).  Five of the nationally televised contests will feature Chicago, and Red Stars players will be at The Globe for eight additional parties when the team isn’t also in action.

“We at The Globe are delighted to partner with the Chicago Red Stars,” said Globe Owner Jamie Hale.  “The Globe has always been the destination point for serious soccer fans, and this partnership with the Red Stars will give our patrons a great opportunity to interact with team players and a fun and convenient transportation option to get to Red Stars games.”

In addition, The Globe will sponsor a fan coach for the Red Stars’ first match, Saturday, April 4^th at St. Louis Athletica.  The bus will depart The Globe (1934 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago) at noon and return following the Red Stars’ match.  The $50 package includes a game ticket, transportation and refreshments.  Reservations on the fan coach can be made by contacting The Globe at (773) 871-3757.

When the Red Stars are home, The Globe will also provide transportation to TOYOTA PARK.  A $15 charge covers round-trip transportation and refreshments on the bus, but not the game ticket.

Courtesy of: Chicago Red Stars