Carolina Elite Cobras News Releaase - www.carolinaelitecobras.com
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Carolina Elite Cobras have added a pair of veterans, Carolyn Warhaftig and Lydia Vandenbergh, to their roster for the 2014 W-League season.
Warhaftig joins the Cobras from Fjölnir FC (Reykjavik, Iceland) after completing a successful career at Colgate University. While at Colgate, Warhaftig was a three-time All-Patriot League player and a two-time team MVP as a central midfielder. After graduation, Warhaftig joined Fjölnir FC in the Icelandic Premier League and settled into her role as a center back, immediately contributing to the team’s strong, physical defensive line.
Cobras Head Coach Sandy Burris says she expects Warhaftig to settle in to the Cobras’ already solid back line, adding a strong presence in the air and potentially freeing up some players to move into the midfield for the Cobras and create more of a threat in the attack.
Vandenberg brings a wide range of experience and talent to the Cobras. After a successful career as a central midfielder at Clemson University, Vandenbergh joined the Santos Futebol Clube in 2006 then Cotia Kurdana (Brazil). After two years in the Brazilian professional circuit, Vandenbergh moved on to the professional leagues in Australia, joining Sydney FC in 2007.
In 2011, she returned to the U.S. and joined MagicJack of WPS. After another professional stint abroad in Denmark (Fortuna Hjørring), Vandenbergh most recently rounded out her professional career with a return to the NWSL's Chicago Red Stars.
Buriss says Vandenbergh’s experience makes her a familiar face to many of her Cobra teammates, contributing to an already solid team chemistry. As a quick, technical left-footed player, Vandenbergh will be an immediate threat attacking out of the left flank for the Cobras.
Both Vandenbergh and Warhaftig can be seen when the Cobras kick off their 2014 season Sunday, May 18 against the Dayton Dutch Lions at 1 p.m. in Dayton, Ohio.