AC Diablos

Alicia Hall Named to WPSL Team of the Week

She's just what the "Driver" ordered

SACRAMENTO, CA (07/01/08) - Another weekend closer to the 2008 Women’s Premier Soccer League WPSL post-season and another weekend of goal scoring galore, as time begins to tick faster for the teams falling out of the playoff race and slower for those looking to secure their berths. This week, the nod for Player of the Week honors goes to two players whose teams are in different positions in the race to the 2008 WPSL Final Four hosted by the California Storm in Sacramento, CA on August 2-3.

Thanks to the scoring prowess of former Boston Breaker & U.S Women’s National Team member Mary-Frances Monroe, the New England Mutiny have clinched their spot in the East playoffs with wins over Maine and New York. With kudos to the two-time Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year Lindsay Giblin, the Florida Surge have warmed up their hopes for a post-season berth as their three-game winning streak currently has them at the top of the Sunshine Conference.

F Mary-Frances Monroe (NEW ENGLAND MUTINY) - WPSL CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
This is the second time the diminutive-yet-deadly Monroe has been honored as the WPSL POTW this season, and for good reason. Her five-goal, three-assist onslaught over the two games this past weekend has secured a spot for the Mutiny in the East Conference playoffs - and with time to spare.

F Lindsay Giblin (FLORIDA SURGE) - WPSL CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
The NSCAA All-South Region Second Team honoree for Rollins College has scored four goals in the past two matches for the Surge, including a big road win at F.C. Thomasville. Giblin has become a goal-scoring force during this inaugural season for the Surge and her high work rate led to a superb volley against Orlando on a sweltering Sunday afternoon.

F Gabrielle Bohlman (SAN FRANCISCO NIGHTHAWKS)
By taking the UC-Davis midfielder and moving her forward while doing the "vice-versa" with her counter-part, the Nighthawks were able to really get their offense going as the former Hawaii Wahine netted an impressive hat-trick in a big win against F.C. Sacramento. The seven goals were the most San Francisco has tallied in one match all season and one shy of their 2008 season tally.

MF Alicia Hall (AC DIABLOS)
The East-Mid-Atlantic race is a tight one and getting three goals in two games - plus an outstanding midfield performance - last weekend from their 2007 All-WPSL selection was just what the "Driver" ordered (i.e. head coach Matt Driver).

MF Shari Summers (WEST COAST F.C.)
The Stanford star makes her second appearance on the WPSL TOTW a vital one, as she scored the eventual game-winner versus the sliding Los Angeles Rampage in a 2-0 shutout win in Pacific-South action - putting WCFC at the top of the division, for the time being. Summers helped set the tempo from her center midfielder position, connecting and creating multiple offensive attacks on Saturday as well as Sunday.

MF Michelle Provenzano (PALM BEACH UNITED)
The former University of Miami standout did her Palm Beach United side proud, helping to secure two wins while scoring a hat-trick against Orlando and locking up the midfield against Puerto Rico. With a 5-1-2 record, PBU is still in the hunt for the Sunshine Conference title.

MF Karina Camacho (ARIZONA RUSH)
The University of Arizona midfielder earned a goal and an assist in a 4-1 victory over Northern Arizona Cheetahs and netted the game-winning goal in the 1-0 victory over the Utah Spiders, putting Rush in first place in the tight Big Sky-North race.

MF Ashli Sandoval (SD UNITED)
The USC Trojan contributed a key assist off a set piece to even the match at 1-1 that shifted the momentum for her team in the 3-1 win over West Coast F.C. Sandoval’s tough mid-field distribution and defensive work was key in the critical victory to keep United alive in the playoff race.

D Kendal Billingsley (WEST COAST F.C.)
Another two-time WPSL TOTW selection, the former UCLA stalwart denied the L.A. Rampage attack any quality shot on frame in the team’s important shutout win. Billingsley specifically shut down the Rampage’s leading goal scorer and four-time offensive MVP Marihelen Tomer and denied any shots from the center of the field all weekend long.

D Manya Makoski (SOCCERPLUS CT)
A multiple nominee this season, the outside back for the Reds has been rock solid in every game for SoccerPlus CT this season - where the defense has given up only one goal. With the win over New York, the undefeated Reds can now look forward to their second straight appearance in the East Conference playoffs.

D Mara Wyttenbach (MYSC LADY BLUES)
The former Clemson and Wisconsin standout was instrumental in organizing the defense and containing a strong Ohio Premier attack in a win in Midwest action. While short in stature, Mara was explosive in the air and was quick to make runs forward to contribute to MYSC’s offense while thwarting what appeared to be promising possession for the Ohio squad.

D Deidre Bass (MIAMI KICKERS F.C.)
Another former Hurricane and multiple nominee makes this week’s WPSL TOTW, as the captain of Miami Kickers F.C. shut down every offensive attack from the middle of the field in the shutout win over Puerto Rico.

GK Kelly Sisley (FLORIDA SURGE)
The Surge goalkeeper has played an astounding 205 minutes without allowing a goal and in the win over the Falcons, Kelly played the first half and came up with two big saves that snuffed out scoring opportunities. In the Surge’s previous two matches against Puerto Rico and F.C. Thomasville, Sisley played flawless in holding a strong Capitals team scoreless and saving numerous Dragon shots to record two shutouts on the road.

HONORABLE MENTION: F Cara Freeman (CHICAGO UNITED BREEZE) - the 2007 IHSCAA High School Player of the Year & Michigan State starlet helped win the Chicago derby for her side, netting a goal and an assist in the win over F.C. Twente3; F Joanna McCaughey (MIAMI KICKERS F.C.) - her team-mate Betty Ann Casey has been receiving all the accolades so far, but her three assist-performance vs. Puerto Rico helped McCaughey’s side get their sixth straight win; F Becky Ryan (SOCCERPLUS CT) - an another multiple nominee this season for WPSL TOTW finally gets her due, as she netted two goals in the win over New York; MF Rachel Fell (MILLBURN MAGIC) - the youngest player on the Millburn squad, the 18-year-old Reading, England native is earning rave reviews on the right side of midfield for the New Jersey team, and capped an outstanding all-round performance with the game-winning goal over Northampton; MF Kim Yokers (CALIFORNIA STORM) - her second appearance on the WPSL TOTW is also for good reason, as Yokers was a dominating force in the midfield, offensively and defensively, and with the win over Monterey, the Storm have clinched a playoff spot in the Pacific-North; GK Sophia Perez (SD UNITED) - the Mexican WNT backstop was strong again for SD United and with two more divisional matches to go, the team leads the Pacific-South with only five goals scored against in eight games played.

The WPSL is now a 51-team national women’s soccer league with five conferences and is considered one of the top women’s soccer leagues in the world. 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 youth. For more information, you can contact us via email at media@wpsl.info.

AC Diablos WPSL News

All-WPSL Teams Named

AC Diablos’ Dani Collins named to 1st team, Alicia Hall to 2nd

SACRAMENTO, CA phillysoccernews.com (07/26/07) - Players from all three area teams have been named to the Women’s Premier Soccer League selections. Atlantic City Diablos defender Dani Collins has been named to the First team selection. Diablos midfielder Alicia Hall has been named to the second team, while Philadelphia Liberty midfielder Many Moraca and CDSA Future defender Lauren Brown have been named honorable mention.

The WPSL announced their 2007 All-WPSL Teams, including Conference Player, Goalkeeper & Coach of the Year selections. The head coaches and goalkeepers of the West champion Ajax America Women (14-0-0) and East champion New England Mutiny (7-0-3) each were honored as the tops in their respective conferences, while an international from the Midwest champion F.C. Indiana (7-1-0) side was named Player of the Year. The Final Four host team - 2006 & 2007 South Conference champion Tampa Bay Elite (6-0-2) - swept the conference honors for Player, Goalkeepers (in this case) and Head Coach.

F.C. Indiana will go up against Ajax America (Los Angeles, CA) in the first WPSL National Semifinal at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday, July 28th while Tampa Bay will take on New England in the second WPSL National Semifinal at 8:30 p.m. The 2007 WPSL National Final will be played at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 29th.

FIRST TEAM ALL-WPSL:
F Kandace Wilson (AJAX AMERICA)
F Tiffany Weimer (SOCCERPLUS CT)
F Cindy Schofield (TAMPA BAY ELITE)
MF Ouying Zhang (SAN DIEGO W.F.C. SEALIONS)
MF Fatima Leyva (F.C. INDIANA)
MF Meghan Schnur (NEW ENGLAND MUTINY)
MF Maureen Whitney (CALIFORNIA STORM)
D Elisabetta Tona (F.C. INDIANA)
D Dani Collins (AC DIABLOS)
D Sue Weber (LONG ISLAND FURY)
GK Karen Bardsley (AJAX AMERICA)
GK Stephanie Labbe (NEW ENGLAND MUTINY)

SECOND TEAM ALL-WPSL:
F Kelly Freeman (DENVER DIAMONDS)
F Tessa Lennala (SAN DIEGO W.F.C. SEALIONS)
F Kennya Cordner (NORTHAMPTON LAURELS F.C.)
MF Sissi (CALIFORNIA STORM)
MF Brittany Potts (RIVER CITIES F.C.)
MF Brittany Cooper (ALBUQUERQUE LADY ASYLUM)
MF Cami Boswell (AJAX AMERICA)
MF Alicia Hall (AC DIABLOS)
D/MF Hannah Cerrone (ADIRONDACK LYNX)
D Danielle Slaton (F.C. TWENTE3 IL)
D Staci Wilson (PALM BEACH UNITED)
GK Dimitra Poulos (RUSH SALT LAKE CITY)
GK Meghann Burke (RIVER CITIES F.C.)

THIRD TEAM ALL-WPSL:
F Erin O’Grady (NEW ENGLAND MUTINY)
F Kelly Waeckerle (F.C. ST. LOUIS)
F Lee Klopschinski (CLAREMONT STARS)
F/MF Gabriela Demoner (BOSTON AZTECS)
MF Crystal Howard (SONOMA COUNTY F.C. SOL)
MF Elena Terekhova (F.C. INDIANA)
MF Shannon Strong (SAN FRANCISCO NIGHTHAWKS)
MF Kelly Henderson (LONG ISLAND FURY)
MF Audia Sullivan (CENTRAL FLORIDA STRIKERS)
D Krissa Reinbold (UTAH SPIDERS)
D Amanda Harris (SONOMA COUNTY F.C. SOL)
D Jeannette Dyer (TAMPA BAY ELITE)
GK Krystal Robens (MASSACHUSETTS STINGERS)

HONORABLE MENTION ALL-WPSL:
F Kia McNeill (BAY STATE SELECT)
F Amy Dibb (COLORADO SPRINGS UNITED)
F Lisa Wrightsman (F.C. SACRAMENTO PRIDE)
MF Kristen Graczyk (SOCCERPLUS CT)
MF Orly Ripmaster (DENVER DIAMONDS)
MF Samantha Faber (LAMORINDA EAST BAY POWER)
MF Mandy Moraca (PHILADELPHIA LIBERTY)
MF Caitlin Fisher (NEW YORK A.C.)
D Deidre Bass (MIAMI KICKERS F.C.)
D Lauren Brown (CDSA FUTURE)
D Rachelle Riley (ORLANDO FALCONS)
D Christy Bush (MARYLAND PRIDE)
GK Alexandra Kapicka (CHICAGO BREEZE UNITED)

EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Tiffany Weimer (SOCCERPLUS CT)
EAST GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR - Stephanie Labbe (NEW ENGLAND MUTINY)
EAST COACH OF THE YEAR - Tony Horta (NEW ENGLAND MUTINY)

MIDWEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Fatima Leyva (F.C. INDIANA)
MIDWEST GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR - Meghann Burke (RIVER CITIES F.C.)
MIDWEST COACH OF THE YEAR - Richard Drake (F.C. TWENTE3 IL)

SOUTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Cindy Schofield (TAMPA BAY ELITE)
SOUTH GOALKEEPERS OF THE YEAR - Mallori Loftin-Malachi/Monica Sanchez (TAMPA BAY ELITE)
SOUTH COACH OF THE YEAR - Jim Cote (TAMPA BAY ELITE)

SOUTHWEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Brittany Cooper (ALBUQUERQUE LADY ASYLUM)
SOUTHWEST GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR - Dimitra Poulos (RUSH SALT LAKE CITY)
SOUTHWEST COACH OF THE YEAR - Scott De Dycker (DENVER DIAMONDS)

WEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Ouying Zhang (SAN DIEGO W.F.C. SEALIONS)
WEST GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR - Karen Bardsley (AJAX AMERICA)
WEST COACH OF THE YEAR - Brian Boswell (AJAX AMERICA)

2007 WPSL Final Four Field Set

SACRAMENTO, CA wpsl.info (07/24/07) - The field for the 2007 Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Final Four has been set, as F.C. Indiana finished their regular season with a 2-0 win at F.C. St. Louis last Saturday, qualifying them for their second Midwest Conference title in the past three seasons. The South Conference champions Tampa Bay Elite qualified for the tournament they will host July 28-29 at Pepin-Rood Stadium (Univ. of Tampa) in Tampa, FL with a 2-1 road win over Southwest champ Denver Diamonds on the same day while the No. 17-internationally ranked & undefeated New England Mutiny (North Division) won its fourth East Conference Championship in five seasons with a 2-1 double-overtime win over the Mid-Atlantic Division champion AC Diablos.

No. 7-internationally ranked F.C. Indiana will go up against No. 2-internationally ranked & West Conference champion Ajax America (Los Angeles, CA) in the first WPSL National Semifinal at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday, July 28th.

Last year, the Tampa Bay Elite were one step away from the Final Four, losing in a playoff match to River Cities F.C. by a 3-1 score in St. Louis, MO. Last Saturday, they traveled farther west to Denver, CO to face off with the Southwest Conference champion Denver Diamonds and took that next leap forward with a thrilling 2-1 victory. With three minutes left in the match, former Florida State star Cindy Schofield flicked on a header to the feet of Univ. of South Florida forward Lindsay Brauer who netted the game-winning goal for the Elite over a tough & resolute Diamonds side.

Tampa Bay will take on New England in the second WPSL National Semifinal this Saturday, July 28th at 8:30 p.m. The Mutiny defeated a resilient & gutsy Atlantic City Diablos side in the East Championship in double overtime on Sunday at Agawam H.S. The Diablos defeated 2006 WPSL champions Long Island by a 3-1 score in double OT themselves the night before in the East Semifinal.

ACDiablos’ young star forward Lydia Hastings netted the game-tying goal in the 71st minute to force overtime, but it was U-21 U.S. Women’s National Team member & UConn star Meghan Schnur who scored the gamewinner with two minutes remaining to seal the Final Four berth for New England.

"I usually would pull [the ball] around, but I just went for it," said Schnur, who also scored the first goal of the match on a penalty kick in the 50th minute. "I just kicked it. Yeah, penalty kicks had been on my mind, from my experience at UConn. It didn’t seem like anything was going to give. I’m not going to lie... it was nerve-wracking."

Preliminary & tentative Final Four information has been released by the Tampa Bay Elite. The Semifinals are played on Saturday night while the WPSL National Final will be played at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Ticket prices are as follows: Family Weekend Pass - $15 / family of 5 in advance, $20 at the gate; Individual Weekend Pass - $10 / adult, $5 / youth; Single Game Price - $6 / adult; $4 / youth. For advance ticket ordering, contact Tampa Bay Elite General Manager Sandy Stringfellow by e-mail at tbelite.gm@verizon.net or by phone at 1-800-854-0913 (ext. 708).

The WPSL is a 38-team national women’s soccer league with five conferences and is the highest level of women’s soccer in the United States while also holding the distinction of being one of the top leagues in the world. The 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.

The WPSL Final Four will be held this July 28-29 at Pepin Stadium (Univ. of Tampa) in Tampa, FL. The host team does not automatically qualify for the championship tournament. Representatives from the re-vamped North, Midwest, South, Southwest & West Conferences will fight it out this post-season for the right to claim themselves as the best of the best in the United States.

The West and Midwest Conference champions will receive automatic bids, while the East, South and Southwest Conferences will undergo knock-out rounds for the remaining two Final Four berths.

AC Diablos Men, Women Begin Play-off Quest

shorenewstoday.com (07/18/07) - The AC Diablos men’s and women’s soccer teams, both made up of Tri-state college and high school stars will begin their playoffs this weekend. The AC Diablos women finished the regular season at 8-2-0 and captured their second straight Women’s Premier League Eastern Conference title. Coach Matt Driver said the changes he made after the team posted back-to-back losses at mid-season has resulted in the team playing its best soccer of the year. During their late-season, four-game surge, the Diablos outscored their opponents 25-2. The Diablos will host the winner of Wednesday’s game between the defending national champion Long Island Fury and SoccerPlus Connecticut in a playoff game to be played this weekend at St. Augustine Prep. The time and date will be announced Thursday morning. AC Diablos Men The first-year AC Diablos men’s team won its final regular season games to finish at 5-1-4 and in second place in the National Premier Soccer League Northeast Conference standings. Because of their second-place finish, the Diablos will host the Long Island Fury in a game that will be played Friday or Saturday evening at St. Augustine Prep. The game time and date will be announced Thursday. The Fury and the Diablos played to a pair of scoreless ties during earlier meetings this season. The Fury finished the regular season at 5-2-3 and in third place in the NPSL Northeast Conference Standings. St. Augustine Prep is located at 611 Cedar Ave. in the Richland section of Buena Vista Township.

Hastings, Walker Named to WPSL Team of the Week

wpsl.info (07/10/07) - Lydia Hastings was named to the first team and Megan Walker received honorable mention honors when the WPSL named its Team of the Week for this past week today. After being traded from the CDSA Future to the Diablos last week, Hasting, a Region I ODP member went on to score four goals in her debut against the Maryland Pride and on the next day, added another goal to bring her tally to five in two games. With the wins, the Diablos are at the top of the Mid-Atlantic Division (East Conference) and have clinched a playoff spot in the East. Walker, William & Mary’s GK, was nominated on a number of occasions by Head Coach Matt Driver for her consistent play this season. She earned her spot with a shutout vs. Maryland.

Trade Winds Blow

EGG HARBOR TWP., NJ phillysoccernews.com (07/05/07) - The AC Diablos and the CDSA Future have completed a four-player trade. The Future sends Lydia Hastings and Maria Sonnerborg to the Diablos. In return the Diablos will send Katie Wieland and Amy Reese to the Future. The trade provides the Future with some strong defenders to boost their back line.

According to Coach Seamus O’Connor his two new players provide depth to their defense and gives him the ability to use different formations during games. The Diablos add two players to their offensive arsenal . Coach Matt Driver is ecstatic about getting two new players to fit into his system and thinks they could provide a boost with playoffs coming up. Sonnerborg has been one of CDSa’s top players. In three games for CDSA, she has scored one goal. She was named PhillySoccerNews.com Player of the Week for the week ending May 27.

Women’s Premier Soccer League Coming to South Jersey

The #1 Top Rated Women’s League in the United States Comes to Atlantic County

sjsports.com (03/07/06) - In May of 2006, Atlantic County will begin to play host to some of the nations best female soccer players. The AC Diablos soccer club was recently formed by a group of business men and soccer enthusiasts led by Matt Driver. He is a former USL franchise owner and a nationally respected professional soccer coach, more recently with the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer.

The Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) is an independent league whose main focus is on the development of highly competitive women’s soccer teams. Women’s football ranking service places the WPSL as the second ranked women’s league in the world and the number one women’s league in the United States.

The Diablos desire is to bring a high level of professionalism to the Atlantic County’s youth, with a determined focus on developing our minority educational and gender equality programs. We can achieve this by assisting the communities youth in challenging themselves in our "Skills for Life" programs, citing education and responsibility as a way to encourage the youth to strive for a higher standard of achievement.

The great variety of highly skilled players is what makes the WPSL truly successful. WPSL teams roster college, post college, foreign players and high school players every year. These players gain a tremendous amount of experience playing along side other dedicated players such as former and current national team players like Shannon Boxx, Abby Wambach, Sissi, Brandi Chastain, and Shannon MacMillian to name a few. College programs and the WPSL maintain a mutually beneficial relationship, as many college coaches encourage their players to play in the WPSL. It improves the players fitness and skill development, which aids in enhancing their own college programs.

The WPSL season runs from May 1st to July 29th, giving the Diablos the opportunity to bring back some of Atlantic counties leading female collegiate players, who can become reacquainted with their friends and families, and more importantly the regions youth soccer players.

This summer every young girl dreaming of playing at the next level will have the chance not only to come out and watch these players but will have the opportunity to interact with some of the best female players in the country. This will provide these young girls with both the inspiration they need and the positive role models that we want them to have.