D.C. United Women News Release - www.dcunitedwomen.com
Friday, July 6, 2012
GERMANTOWN, Md. - D.C. United Women has bolstered its already highly talented roster with the addition of U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team midfielder/forward Andi Sullivan as the team prepares for its first W-League playoff appearance.
"The timing worked out for us, having lost a couple key players and we know Andi’s a quality player because she’s been training with us," Head Coach Mike Jorden said regarding the addition of Sullivan. "Her knowledge of the game and how diverse she is as a player is really going to help us. She’s a great player and she can play all over the field."
Sullivan, a rising high school junior in Lorton, Va., is arguably the most dynamic women’s prep player in the country having established herself with the National Team as well as her club team, the Bethesda SC Freedom. She is currently ranked as the No. 2 overall recruit for the class of 2014 on topdrawersoccer.com’s Top 150 list and No. 1 in the Mid-Atlantic region. She is one of only 13 five-star recruits in her class, most touted for her ability to score and make plays on the offensive side of the ball. She is also a talented defender in the midfield and is a world-class athlete with great speed and strength.
"The first time we saw her, we didn’t know a 16-year-old could come in and play like that against some of the players we have," Jorden said. "[Assistant Coach Cindi Harkes] and I knew she was something special from the get-go, but had some problems with her National Team schedule in trying to get her into some D.C. United Women matches. "
Sullivan has committed to play at West Coast soccer powerhouse Stanford, the reigning NCAA College Cup champion and alma-mater of D.C. United Women captain Marisa Abegg. She will join the Cardinals in fall of 2014.
At 16, Sullivan will be the youngest player on the D.C. United Women roster, more than a year younger than James Madison commit and second-leading goal scorer for the Black-and-Red, Ashley Herndon. Sulllivan, Herndon and JMU class of 2012 commit Maddy Brown are the only United Women players yet to begin their college careers, but could be major factors for the offense down the stretch.
Herndon’s four goals are tied with Lianne Sanderson for second on the team behind Mikaela Howell’s eight, and Brown is less than two weeks removed from a breakout three-point effort against Northern Virginia. Sullivan has promise to be the next high schooler to make an impact for the Black-and-Red this season as she joins the a team that’s already qualified for the playoffs, but wanting more.
"It just goes to show how much talent we have in the Washington area," Jorden continued. "Being able to bring in kids this young and play in the W-League really says a lot for them. They’re all smart players and they bring something different from each other but they’re all three darn good players."
Sullivan is expected to be in uniform for D.C. United Women on Saturday when the team plays its final regular season home match against the Dayton Dutch Lions at 7 p.m. at the Maryland SoccerPlex.
Tickets for Saturday’s match, which is also Becky Sauerbrunn’s Olympic Send-off and Youth Team Recognition Night, are available now at https://tickets.dcunitedwomen.com/. As part of a late-season ticket special, one free youth ticket will be awarded with each purchase of an adult ticket.