Pali Blues News Release -- www.bluessoccerclub.com
Friday, February 17, 2012
LOS ANGELES -- The Pali Blues are excited to announce the addition of two more players to the 2012 squad. Danielle Hubka, who played for Pali in 2011, and Lydia Hastings both hail from the University of Maryland, where they helped the Terps to the third round of the NCAA Tournament last fall. They both also have experience with the United States U18 and U20 Youth National Teams.
“Both players are part of a great college program that has had an amazing turn around in the last four years, and that will be extremely valuable to our franchise,” said Pali Blues head coach, Charlie Naimo on the acquisition.
Hubka, a junior midfielder and forward at Maryland scored five goals and earned three assists last fall. Although she is officially listed as a midfielder or forward, she can play in the back line as well. Last summer, she was a right back for Pali where she played eight matches, scored one goal and assisted two.
“I am very pleased to have Danielle back so we can finish what we started,” said Naimo. “She may be the most versatile player on the team this year. She can play almost any position at a high level and brings a winning mentality. That mentality is what our team will be built around.”
Hastings, another versatile player, played forward as a freshman in 2008 and led her team in scoring that year. She moved to the midfield as a junior, and then finished her collegiate career as a left back. She played a total of 81 matches for Maryland, and started all but two of them.
“Lydia comes to us highly recommended after a great career with Maryland,” said Naimo. “She is an exciting player of the soccer junky mold -- kind of like a Tobin Heath. No question she will be a strong contributor to our attack.”
Catch these players on the field as they kick off the season at Occidental College versus the LA Strikers on May 13 at 6 p.m. PST, or when they host the first home game of the season at Palisades High School also against LA on Wednesday, May 30, at 7 p.m. PST. For the full schedule, visit bluessoccerclub.com.