Pali Blues News Release - www.bluessoccerclub.com
Saturday, May 18, 2013
LOS ANGELES - The Pali Blues are set to begin the 2013 W-League season taking on rival LA Strikers at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 18, at Palisades High School. After reaching the 2012 championship game the Blues have their eyes set on winning the title this season.
Head coach Charlie Naimo and goalkeeper Anna Picarelli discussed the team heading into the season-opener.
“I am extremely concerned about the first game, as I am every year,” said Naimo. “There is an enormous amount of talent on the team, but we have not had the chance to prepare very well. This week we were without five of our players at [U-23 US Women’s] national team camp, and a few others still at school. We’ve also been nursing a few minor injuries.”
Naimo’s concern comes from going up against a confident and improved LA Strikers team.
“Games are always difficult against confident teams,” he said. “I think in their minds, they have formed a rivalry with us. The importance of the game is high for us, but it’s probably higher for them because they want to beat us. But we are going into the season not thinking about the rivalry. We are thinking about winning the championship.”
Picarelli is excited for the chance for redemption after losing the league title in a penalty kick shootout last year.
“I can’t wait for out game tomorrow,” she said. “I’ve been looking forward to this since the whistle blew in the last game in 2012. After getting together with this team on the field, I know this year’s team is a championship team. The talent this group has along with the hard work everyone puts in, this team is going to turn heads and that all starts tomorrow.”
Naimo concluded his thoughts on what it’s going to take for his squad to defeat the Strikers.
“This team is focused, so if we can hold up physically, we’ll have a good match,” he said. “They can’t look at our past record against the Strikers and get too confident, so I’m cautiously optimistic about the match.”
The battle between the Blues and the Strikers will begin at 10 p.m. ET at Palisades High School. Fans can purchase tickets by visitingbluessoccerclub.com/tickets or calling 310-777-7897.