Valkyries Ready For Showdown

North Jersey Valkyries News Release - www.njvalkyries.com

Friday, July 13, 2012

WAYNE, N.J - It all comes down to the last regular season game with a playoff berth on the line.  First place vs. second place.  Only one point separates the Long Island Rough Riders and North Jersey Valkyries. In its short three year history, the Valkyries have exceeded all expectations this year. 

In its first year the Valkyries were winless. The second year saw slight improvement finishing just below .500.  This year however they are 7-2-2 going into the last game, outscoring the opposition three-to-one and just one win away from a division championship.

"It really is amazing when you look back on it.  We still have some of the original players at the club, and it is great for them to see how this team has grown in what really is such a short time,"  head coach and general manager Mark White said.  "We felt at the beginning of this season that we would be very competitive, but to be sitting here on the last weekend of the regular season knowing that we are just one win away from the Northeast Division Championship is almost unbelievable."

The Valkyries squad is a tight group, made up of youth and experience.  All of them have one thing in common - they want to win. 

"We have seen such a desire from this group" White added.  "From day one the competitiveness was on show for all to see, and they have got better and better as the season has gone on."

The Valkyries travel to Cy Donnelly Stadium in Long Island to take on the Rough Riders on Saturday, July 14 at 5 p.m. ET.  Their last visit ended with a Krissy Greenwood injury-time goal giving the Valkyries a hard-fought victory.  They know this game, with its outcome being so important, will be even tougher. 

"This is our toughest game," TSF Academy coach and Valkyries player Krissy Greenwood commented, "but we have worked so hard to get here, that the whole team are really looking forward to it.  We have spoken about the game, worked hard in training, and now we are just looking forward to getting out to Long Island and playing." 

Asked if she thinks the Valkyries can win the game, she said "yes, definitely, we have the players to do so."  And could she provide the game winner? She added with a wry smile, "who knows, it may be in the last minute again!"