D.C. United Women News Release -- www.dcunitedwomen.com
Friday, May 6, 2011
GERMANTOWN, Md. -- Penn State University standout Christine Nairn, who narrowly missed out on a final roster spot for the U.S. Women’s National Team for this summer’s World Cup in Germany, highlights several players named to D.C. United Women, the club announced today.
Nairn played her entire youth club soccer career with Freestate Soccer Club, and is a veteran of the U.S. youth soccer national team programs.
"Christine is exactly the type of player we’re looking for," said D.C. United Women coach Mike Jorden." She has all of the characteristics we like: technical skill, speed of thought and an ability to see the entire field all of the time. She moves the ball well, can beat players on the dribble, and she can be a dangerous shooter from outside the penalty area."
"I am extremely excited to play for and represent D.C. United Women," Nairn said. "Growing up in Bowie, my family and I have gone to RFK to watch plenty of D.C. United games, so I am thrilled to be a part of such a talented and historic program. I hope I can benefit the program as well as help it grow this summer for its first inaugural season."
Among Nairn’s impressive achievements:
• Member of the U.S. Women’s National Player Pool since 2009
• Member of the U.S. Women’s U23 National Player pool since 2010
• Former co-captain of the U.S. Women’s U20 national team
• U20 World Cup champion in 2010
• Member of the CONCACAF U20 champions in 2010
• Selected to the NSCAA All-America team in 2010
• Nominated as U.S. Soccer’s Female Youth Athlete of the Year in 2009
"Christine brings a wealth of experience to our team, which is very impressive because she’s still a young player," Jorden said. "We look forward to having her influence the rest of the team with her poise and skill."
D.C. United Women is scheduled to hold its second and third round of tryouts on May 7 and May 14 at the Maryland SoccerPlex (field 18), from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Joining Nairn in the first ever signings for the new club are the impressive and experience trio of Jerica DeWolfe, Danielle Malagari, and Tiffany Brown.
Brown joins D.C. United Women as one of Colorado College’s most dynamic players in school history, earning top-five school marks for goals and points and top 10 for assists. She played in every game over her four year career, and started 74 of 80 career games for the Tigers. She led the team in scoring three of her four years, and holds the school record for most games played during a collegiate career. Brown was a WPS trialist this spring for Western New York Flash, but turned down a training squad offer to reunite with Jorden, her former youth coach.
A Bethesda native, DeWolfe joins United from the University of Dayton, where she completed her senior season with six goals and six assists for 18 points as a midfielder for the Flyers, placing her second on the team overall. DeWolfe tallied three game-winning goals, and was named Midfielder of the Year, the first Flyer ever to win this award. She also earned First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors and was selected to the Atlantic 10 All-Championship team.
Prior to joining Dayton, DeWolfe netted 63 goals and 60 assists as a four-year starter and two-year captain at St. John’s College High School in Maryland. She was a Washington Post First Team All-Met player in 2005 and 2006. She also led her Freestate SC club team to the Maryland State Cup championships in 2005 and 2006.
A graduate of Good Counsel High School in Wheaton, Md. Malagari was a standout defender for the University of Maryland, where she started 36 of the Terrapins’ 39 games during her last two seasons. A tough left-footed defender, Malagari was a cornerstone of a Terp defense that posted 13 shutouts in 2004 and 2005.
A four-year standout at Good Counsel, she was a NSCAA All-South selection in 2001 and tallied 71 goals and 47 assists and was the school’s leading scorer her final three years.
"We are very pleased with our latest signings," said D.C. United Women General Manager Tim Schweitzer. "We are gathering together tremendous talent with strong local ties to the area. This is consistent with our goal of drawing players from the area, including top college standouts, former professionals and international stars. Our expectations are high for the product we will put on the field this summer."
D.C. United Women fill the vacancy left by the departure of the Washington Freedom Futures and will play their home slate of matches at the Maryland Soccerplex in Germantown, Maryland. Also the former home of the WPS Washington Freedom, the Soccerplex is an ideal showcase for women’s minor league soccer in the DC metropolitan area.
D.C. United Women face a challenging schedule of opponents in the Northeast Division in the upcoming season, including notable W-League mainstays New York Magic and Long Island Rough Riders. United Women open the season on the road against 2005 W-league Champion New Jersey Wildcats on May 25th. The club will kick off their home season on Thursday, June 9th hosting a rematch with the Wildcats.