Fredericksburg Impact News Release: www.fasaimpact.com
Thursday, May 31, 2012
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – After a two-week hiatus, the Fredericksburg Impact return to action on Saturday against the Northern Virginia Majestics at Hellwig Memorial Field Stadium in Manassas. Fredericksburg is off to a 2-0 start after opening the season with a 3-1 win over Northern Virginia and a dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Virginia Beach at the University of Mary Washington’s Battleground Athletic Complex.
Saturday will mark the first road test for the Impact, who will look to take a 2-0 lead in the season series against the Majestics.
Unlike Fredericksburg, who will be coming off a long break, the Majestics will be playing their second game in two days after traveling to Virginia Beach on Friday. It will also be Northern Virginia's first home match of the season.
In their first two games this season, the Impact were led offensively by Missy Wycinsky. The veteran player scored once in each victory and has been a leader on and off the field for the team so far according to Impact coach Jen Woodie.
“Missy is a very outgoing person and relentless competitor. These two qualities make her the driving force from within our team,” Woodie said. “Our team is coming along and fighting for each other, and I think a big part of that is from the influence that Missy has on this team. She is not afraid to address the most obvious questions, and she is very forward about it.
“The team is really responding to her intensity and I look forward to the next two months with her at the reigns.”
Fredericksburg has also received single goals from Sandra Matute, Kara Blosser and Nikki Czaplicki, who netted the game-winner in the 90th minute against Virginia Beach.
The Impact defense has been led by veteran players Matute, Nicole Marks and Carter Blair, who left the game with the Piranhas early, but is set to rejoin the team on Saturday. Fredericksburg’s defense has allowed just one goal and a total of 13 shots through two games. Youngsters Becca Fisher and Ashley Herndon have also been key players defensively in the early going.
Woodie said the Impact used its two-week break to recover from a tough opening weekend of games and to continue working on building its continuity. It was also a chance to work on making in-game adjustments that will help the team better counter what is happening on the field on any given game day.
“The bonding and ‘meshing’ of the team has gone as well as it could have over the last two weeks. We had some rain-outs and shuffled some training sessions around, but I think it is coming along,” Woodie said. “Tactical situations were addressed over the break and I am looking forward to how the team does in our next test this Saturday against the Majestics.”
Kristen Lybert, a rising junior at the University of Richmond, should see her first action of the season on Saturday. Woodie said the Northern Virginia native will have a chance to add to Fredericksburg’s attack, while playing in front of a hometown crowd.