LA Blues SC News Release - www.bluessoccerclub.com
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The LA Blues are delighted to announce the addition of 2013 LA Strikers standouts Tanya Samarzich, Sammy Jo Prudhomme, Jamie Bell, and Shanna Hudson to the roster. The move adds more Strikers fan favorites to the new LA Blues squad led by Charlie Naimo and Tracey Kevins, former coaches of the Pali Blues and LA Strikers, respectively.
Samarzich, from Upland, Calif., is a forward at USC who played her first season of collegiate soccer in 2013. She is also a member of the U-20 Mexican national team, and recently impressed at the U-20 CONCACAF Championship, which serves as the U-20 World Cup qualifying tournament. She netted six goals for Mexico and won the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer.
“Tanya is a young prospect with an eye for goal who only recently showcased her goal-scoring abilities by winning the Golden Boot whilst representing Mexico in World Cup qualification,” Kevins said. “We are excited to have her join us this year.”
“I'm really excited to be part of the LA Blues,” Samarzich said. “Being with the Strikers last year was a fun experience. I'm excited to meet the other players and play in our first game, and hopefully become champions.”
Prudhomme, another Southern California native from Aliso Viejo, is a starting goalkeeper at Oregon State University where she was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team in 2012. She averaged 5.78 saves per game in 2013, the highest in the Pac-12. She currently stands in the top five at Oregon State for saves in a season and career shutouts.
“Sammy Jo is an outstanding goalkeeper whose shot stopping is second to none,” Kevins said. “Alongside Audrey Bledsoe, we now have two incredible goalkeepers on our roster.”
“I am incredibly excited to be playing with the LA Blues this upcoming season,” Prudhomme said. “It's a great opportunity for me, being a younger college player, to play with and against some of the best in the nation and gain some of their knowledge of the game along with experience. I played with the LA Strikers last year and it was amazing, so I'm looking forward to playing with some of my old teammates and getting to know the new players.
"The W-League is one of the top leagues in the nation and I can't wait to get back and compete.”
Bell, one of the Strikers’ top scorers in 2013, is also returning to play for Kevins. Prior to signing with the Strikers Bell played professionally in Russia with Energiya Voronezh in 2010. Bell was also a standout at Loyola Marymount from 2004 to 2007 and ranks in the top six for all-time career points.
In 2013, Bell scored two crucial goals against the Pali Blues - most importantly her game-winner in a 2-1 victory late in the season that hurt Pali’s chances of making the postseason.
“Jamie had an excellent season and had a knack of scoring important goals,” Kevins said. “Her work rate and attitude was first class, and I am excited to work with her again”
Hudson, a defender from Venice, Calif., played collegiately at USC and Cal State Northridge. She is no stranger to the W-League’s Western Conference having played for the Pali Blues in 2012 and the Strikers in 2013. Hudson is also a member of the Haiti women’s national team.
As the team captain, Hudson led the Strikers to the club’s first winning record of 8-5, plus their first appearance in the Western Conference Championship last year.
“I’m excited to return to the Blues to be part of something special,” she said. “Charlie and Tracey together are the perfect match. They will create an exceptionally professional environment anyone would want to be a part of. Both Charlie and Tracey have run successful teams in previous years. I know that at the close of season I will be a better player.”
“Shanna is a tenacious, uncompromising defender who will add even more strength to a tough looking defense,” Kevins said.