Seattle Sounders Women News Release -- www.sounderswomen.com/
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
TUKWILA, Wa. – The Sounders Women have signed Mexican National Team forward Veronica Perez for the 2012 season. Perez, a University of Washington graduate, was selected 37th overall in the 2010 WPS draft.
“It’s going to be a competitive, challenging, and fun environment,” Perez said. “Seattle is a huge soccer city, passionate about the game, and I think the women’s game is going to develop and grow here.”
Perez will team up with U.S. Women’s National Team players whom she scored against in a 2010 World Cup Qualifier for Mexico. Her goal turned out to be the game winner.
After scoring the goal, Veronica recalls her thoughts on beating Team U.S.A., “I remember thinking ’’oh my god, we can actually do this." We had so much time left but our whole team was so invested and focused we weren’t going to let down. It was the best moment of my career for sure.”
With the Sounders Women, Perez will have also have teammates who have been friends since college. She will reunite with former Huskies, Hope Solo, Kate Deines, and Lindsay Elston.
“Kate and I always talked about reuniting and playing together again one day, so we’re pumped about being on field together. Hope is the best goalkeeper in world so that’s obvious and this will be my first time playing with Lindsay. Once a Husky, always a Husky.”
At the University of Washington Perez was a two-time Second Team All-Pac-10 selection. She left the University of Washington ranked in the top-10 in several categories, including third in shots (194) and games played (83), fourth in game-winning goals (8), tied for sixth in goals (21), and eighth in points (53).
Her former coach at the University of Washington, Leslie Gallimore, shares Veronica’s excitement, “At the end of the day, we’re pumped that she’s back [in Seattle]”.
“I’ve always been impressed with her work ethic and ability to adjust to different positions,” Gallimore said. “It’s unfortunate that Mexico didn’t qualify for the Olympics, with Canada beating them out, but she’s really solidifying herself with Mexico. When the Sounders situation came up, it looked like a great place for some of the U.S. [Women’s] National Team players to play between now and the Olympics and this makes a great choice for her too.”
Perez see’s things simply, “I just love to play and have the opportunity to keep improving my game so that’s what I’m doing. “