Impact Set For D.C. United Women

Fredericksburg Impact News Release - www.fasaimpact.com

Friday, June 8, 2012

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The Fredericksburg Impact take on the Atlantic Division-leading D.C. United Women Saturday afternoon with first place on the line. Both teams enter the contest with unblemished records. At 3-0-0, the Impact have earned the maximum nine points on the young season while D.C. United is 4-0-0 with 12 points.

Midfielder Nicole Marks, forward Missy Wycinsky and defender Sandra Matute have provided steady veteran leadership for Fredericksburg.

All three players have played a lot of soccer in their careers and continue to do so this season, showing their dedication to the game. Matute, Wycinsky and Marks have all played over 70 minutes in each of the games that they appeared. 

In last Saturday’s win against the Northern Virginia Majestics, Matute and Wycinsky both played major roles in the victory against their Commonwealth Cup rival.

Matute played 71 minutes and took one shot in the win, but her biggest game of the season so far came in first meeting with the Majestics in the Impact’s home opener. The native of France scored the opening goal and played the full 90 minutes, contributing on both ends of the field in a 3-1 victory.

Wycinsky, a former second-team All-American while at William & Mary, has been steady in her first year with the Impact. She’s played every minute of the first three games and registered at least one point in each.

Nicole Marks missed last weekend’s game against Northern Virginia due to a high school coaching commitment but knows there is a tremendous opportunity to show what the Impact can do against D.C. United Women. 

“I never go in a game not expecting to win,” she said. “When you think of D.C. United, they have a great team, great soccer, and tremendously talented players on that team.”

Marks went on to state, “It’s our nature to work hard and compete. I think we’re fit, tough, and up for the challenge of the big game.”

The D.C. United Women enter Saturday’s match with a 4-0-0 record and 12 points. They won their last match against the Dayton Dutch Lions 2-0 this past Saturday, keeping their winning streak alive at eight dating back to last season. Both goals in the victory were assisted by midfielder Mikaela Howell.

Howell, a rising sophomore at Monroe College in the Bronx, N.Y., has 10 points on the season, coming on three goals and four assists. In 2011, the native of England amassed 23 goals and eight assists in her first season at the junior college.

The fleet-footed forward, last played in the W-League for the New York Magic in 2008. Her last club soccer team was Reading WTC of England.

Saturday’s match is scheduled to kickoff at 2 p.m. ET as the opener of a doubleheader with Fredericksburg’s Premier Development League team. That match kicks off at 5:30 p.m. when the Hotspur take on the Carolina Dynamo. Admission is free to both matches as a special promotion sponsored by Kellogg’s.