Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release - www.whitecapsfc.com
Saturday, April 23, 2011
VANCOUVER, B.C. - Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the return of midfielder Ranee Premj, as well as strikers Julie Armstrong and Jenna Richardson. Whitecaps FC also announced the acquisition of midfielder Amber Brooks – pending United States Soccer Federation approval.
“We’re very excited to have these young players on our squad this year,” said Hubert Busby Jr., Whitecaps FC women’s team head coach. “Having these players come through the Whitecaps FC Prospects team is a testament to the program. Ranee, Julie and Jenna have all worked hard to get to this point and continue to improve. Amber brings a winning mentality and will fit in seamlessly within our group.”
Premji, 19, returns for her second season with the Whitecaps FC W-League side after graduating from the Whitecaps FC Prospects program. Last season, Premji started three of her five W-League appearances for a total of 289 minutes of action. For the past two years, the native of Calgary, Alberta, has also played National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I soccer at the University of North Carolina having helped the Tar Heels win their 20th NCAA national championship during her freshman season. Last season, the 5-foot-2 midfielder made 24 appearances, scored one goal and added three assists. During her two NCAA seasons, Premji has started 23 of her 38 appearances for nine career points. Internationally, Premji has been called up to the Canadian U-17 and U-20 national team squads.
Armstrong, 21, returns for her fourth season with Whitecaps FC after starting five of her seven W-League appearances last season for a total of 379 total minutes of action while recording one assist. A graduate of the Whitecaps FC Prospects program, Armstrong has started 13 of her 19 appearances in her W-League career, scoring two goals and one assist. For the past two years, the 5-foot-10 midfielder/forward has also played NCAA Division I soccer at the University of Oregon, starting 19 of her 34 appearances, scoring three goals and recording seven assists for a total 13 points. Internationally, Armstrong started eight of her 13 appearances for the Canadian U-20 women’s national team, while scoring two goals. For the senior Canadian women’s national team, she has started five of her six appearances and added one goal.
Richardson, 18, also returns for her second season with Whitecaps FC in the W-League after graduating from the Whitecaps FC Prospects program. This past year, Richardson played her first season of NCAA Division I soccer at Oregon State University, starting 11 of her 19 appearances. The native of White Rock, BC, finished second on the team with nine goals and five assists, while tying for the team lead with four game-winning goals and 23 total points. Internationally, the 5-foot-7 midfielder has four caps and one goal for the Canadian U-20 women’s national team.
Brooks, 20, has teamed up with Premji at the University of North Carolina for the past two seasons. Last season, the 5-foot-6 midfielder started all 24 of her appearances, scoring seven goals and recording two assists for a total of 16 points. In her freshman season in 2009, the native of New Hope, Pennsylvania, started 15 of her 27 appearances, recording three assists as the Tar Heels won the NCAA championship. In 2007, Brooks played in the W-League for New Jersey Wildcats, starting one of her five appearances for 138 total minutes of action. Internationally, Brooks has played for the United States U-17 and U-20 national teams. In 2008, she played every minute of her five appearances in her country’s silver medal performance at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, wearing the captain’s armband for two matches, including the final against North Korea. Brooks also started all four matches in the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.