NEWS NEWS

SEALIONS BEGIN 20TH YEAR WITH EYES ON A CHAMPIONSHIP!
Friday May 23, 2008
SAN DIEGO -- It's been 20 years since the San Diego WFC SeaLions first took the field as the "Has-Beens" in the local Peninsula League, 10 years since they became Auto Trader Select and joined the WPSL, and 5 years since they were named the Developmental Squad for the WUSA San Diego Spirit.

This weekend the SeaLions, one of the oldest women's soccer clubs in the USA, open their 2008 season against 2 new WPSL teams – West Coast FC and the Los Angeles Rampage – and they are poised to make yet another run at a national championship.

"This is the best squad we've ever had this early in the year," says 3rd-year head coach Sean Bowers.  "We have a mix of talented young players and experienced leaders such as Jen Nielsen and Sherice Anders, along with several quality college starters joining us later.  Our goals are set very high."   

In addition to WUSA veterans Nielsen and Anders, top returnees for San Diego include forwards Tessa Lennala (UC-Riverside), Lizzy Coghill (Notre Dame), Jasmine Namdar (Arizona) and JoJo Idom (Pepperdine) who combined for 15 goals in 2007, UC-Berkeley Defenders Alea Kerch and Amy Willison, and goalkeeper Kirstin Radlinski (Colorado), who anchored a defense that allowed just 15 goals in 14 games.  The SeaLions also welcome the return of 2005 scoring leader Chrissy Sanford (Arizona State).

Among the new players expected to make an immediate impact are forwards Sarah Bromley (Dartmouth), Annie Kadota (Rice), and Jackie Ragudos (SDSU); midfielder Haley VanBlommestein (ASU); and defender Ali Lokanc (SDSU).

 "The girls have worked hard this Spring, playing creditably in matches against UC-Irvine, SDSU, and Arizona," continued Bowers.  "I believe they are capable of beating any team in the country."

In addition to a successful WPSL season, the SeaLions also entertain hopes of helping bring professional soccer back to San Diego.  Following the demise of the WUSA in 2003, a new women's pro soccer league, dubbed WPS, begins play in 2009 with 6 teams, the closest of which will be in Los Angeles.

A key factor in the rise and future success of this new pro league have been the WPSL and the W-League, which up to now have represented the highest level of women's soccer in the world.  The WPSL and W-League have essentially provided a "farm system" for the launch of WPS, and many of the leagues' players will find themselves on professional rosters in 2009.

The SeaLions are charter members of the WPSL, which now has 51 teams in 22 states, while the W-League boasts 40 amateur teams and one professional team.

San Diego hosts West Coast FC on Saturday (5/24) at 7:00 p.m. and the L.A. Rampage on Sunday (5/25) at 3:00 p.m.  All the SeaLions' home matches are played at Manchester Stadium on the campus of Cathedral Catholic High School, 5555 Del Mar Heights Road, San Diego, CA  92130.  To commemorate the SeaLions' 20th year, all "kids" under the age of 20 and wearing a soccer shirt are admitted free!