Seattle Sounders Women News Release -- www.sounderswomen.com
Thursday, March 14, 2013
TUKWILA, Wash. – The Seattle Sounders Women have announced Lindsay Elston, Erin McNulty, Isabel Farrell, and Megan Kufeld as the initial quartet of signings for the 2013 W-League campaign. Midfielders, Lindsay Elston and Isabel Farrell, along with goalkeepers, McNulty and Kufeld all have represented their countries on the international level.
“We’re happy to welcome Erin, and very pleased to have Izzy, Megan and Lindsay back with the Sounders," Head Coach Hubert Busby Jr. said. "They are talented and passionate players with bright futures in the game. They epitomize what it means to be a Sounder.”
Lindsay Elston, a former U.S. U-20 National Teamer, led the University of Washington this season to an NCAA bid and scored the lone Huskies goal in the first round. She led UW in goals with ten in just 19 games played and tacked on five assists on route to team MVP. Elston will return for her third season in a row with the Sounders Women and is sure to play a key role.
“I feel really lucky to be able to return to the Sounders Women again this summer," Elston said. "It was an incredible experience for me, let alone huge for my development as a player. I found it very beneficial to establish new elements of my game leading into my season with UW.”
Elston will be joined on the Sounders by at least two of her UW teammates, Isabel Farrell and Megan Kufeld. Farrell is currently on the U-20 National Team, and rejoins the Sounders after her first year in college.
“I feel so honored and lucky to wear the Sounders jersey,” Farrell said. “It's definitely not something to be taken for granted. Wearing the uniform, and playing with such a great team, makes all the hard work that comes with playing soccer worth it.”
Farrell started 17 games in her freshman year at UW, earning a return call to the U.S. U-20 National Team for the recent 12 Nations Tournament in La Manga, Spain. She played a prominent role in the United States midfield, logging a start and over 90 minutes of action in the three tournament matches.
Despite all the national team matches, playing in front of the Sounders faithful still stands out for Izzy.
“The fans were so great! Right when I walked in the stadium for the first game I got chills because of the energy from the fans,” Farrell said.
Megan Kufeld and Erin McNulty ensure that the Sounders will be in safe hands this season. Kufeld holds caps for the U.S. U-14, U-15, U-17, U-18, and U-20’s. She returns to the Sounders Women after shining in the Sounders run into the playoffs in 2012.
“I am very excited to be returning to the Sounders," Kufeld said. "It was a great experience last year and this year I'm only more excited to hopefully contribute more to the team of what sounds like is going to be a very talented group.”
Last of the four signings is a player pegged as a future cornerstone of the Canadian National Team. Erin McNulty comes to the Sounders Women a month after her first call-up to Team Canada. The Penn State graduate has been in the youth national team system since 2004. She was a member of the U-20 Canadian World Cup team at just 15 years old. While at Penn State, McNulty lead the Nittany Lions to the 2012 NCAA National Title Match.
“Erin is a technically sound Goalkeeper,” said Busby. “She's coming off a stellar year at Penn State. She brings tremendous leadership qualities in goal. Erin is also a great organizer that will provide a calming influence on the team.”
McNulty played a huge role in leading the Nittany Lions’ run last fall. In the Sweet Sixteen against Michigan and down 2-0 in PKs, the keeper made three-straight saves and Penn State converted on its next three kicks to stun the Wolverines and advance. McNulty followed with a shutout against Duke and a remarkable performance against her former squad, Florida State, in the national semifinals.
"I'm excited to join the Sounders organization as I know they have high expectations and great tradition," McNulty said. "I'm also looking forward to being in an environment that will provide me the opportunity and challenge me to get better every day as well as challenge me to continue developing as a leader.”
The Sounders Women will hold Open Tryouts on March 16 and 17 at Starfire Sports for a chance to see local talent that could join the Sounders. Registration and information is available on SoundersWomen.com. The Sounders Women will continue to announce signings for the 2013 W-League season on the club’s website. Single match and season tickets are currently on sale on SoundersWomen.com.