Colorado Rapids Women News Release - www.coloradorapids.com/women
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
DENVER - The Colorado Rapids Women’s Super-20 League team achieved an unexpected triumph this past July when it won the 2012 North American Championship in Bradenton, Florida. For the 2013 season, Rapids Women Head Coach Daniel Clitnovici will call up and promote seven of the 2012 championship-winning Super-20 players to the W-League team: Anna Evans, Karisa Price, Hannah Clark, Therese Hagbyhn, Hannah Levett, Layla Ashouri, and Abby Phillips.
"Moving up to the Rapids first team will be a great challenge and opportunity for me," Evans said. "I have nothing to lose and I'm looking forward to improving my game in a summer of high-quality, high-class soccer. There are high hopes for a successful season."
Clitnovici also expressed his excitement about the potential these young players can offer.
"It was a tough call on how many players to bring up to the W-League team as we had such a great group of girls in that U20 squad, but I feel the ones I have called up for this upcoming season are ready for this step and they should do well for us," he said. "They have all had another positive college season under their belt and I’m really happy to watch them continue to grow and develop."
The seven athletes all had very successful seasons for their respective college teams. Hagbyhn, a defender, followed up winning the Super-20 League Championship with the Rapids by winning the 2012 NAIA National Championship with her school, Lindsey Wilson College. Hagbyhn, a starter in the Lindsey Wilson defense, scored a goal and registered one assist this past season.
Ashouri competes for the University of Nebraska-Omaha and featured in all 18 of her school's games as a freshman. Ashouri can play in the midfield or up front and registered one assist for the Mavericks. Price, a forward, plays her soccer at Metro State University in Denver where she was named All-RMAC first team and led her team with 16 goals. Price also registered three assists during the 2012 season.
Clark, a goalkeeper, is another promising young player. As a freshman at Iowa State, Clark played in 21 matches and made 55 saves, ranking third in the Big Ten in save percentage. Phillips can play as a striker or in the midfield and plays her soccer for the University of Alabama-Birmingham. She played in 14 games and scored a goal for UAB and this past season.
Evans is a forward for the Colorado School of Mines and was named Player of the Year in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference after leading her team in scoring with 17 goals. Levett can also play as a forward or center-mid and managed eight goals and seven assists this fall for UCCS. She was named to the all-RMAC second team.
The Colorado Rapids are hoping these young ladies, combined with some experienced returnees from 2012 and a few new faces, will be a recipe for a successful 2013 season in the W-League.
For more Information about the Colorado Rapids Women please visit www.coloradorapids.com/women and also, keep an eye on the Colorado Rapids Women’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/corapidswomen.