Kickers Report

6/25/2008

For the second consecutive week Miami Kickers F.C. forward Betty Ann Casey garnered Team of the Week honors in the nationwide 51-team WPSL (Women’s Premier Soccer League). The Mississippi State graduate and former W-League New Jersey Wildcat netted four goals and two assists in two decisive wins this past weekend against the Orlando Falcons (8-0) and the Thomasville Dragons (6-0) in week five of the season. She had made the list the previous week with two goals in a 2-1 victory over the Puerto Rico Capitals. Another Kickers player, defender Rochelle Willis, a Princeton graduate and former W-League teammate of Casey’s made the TOW during week two. This was Casey’s 4th Offensive MVP nomination, Willis has three Defensive MVP nominations and fellow defender Deidre Bass has two.

This past Friday June 20, 2008, the Kickers traveled to Orlando to play versus the Orlando Falcons. The Kickers did not wait long to get on the scoreboard when a sizzling hot Betty Ann Casey scored off a pass from Natalie Bellini in the 4th minute of play. Casey would repeat two more times in the 37th and 39th minutes of the first half to record her first hat trick of the season. Other scorers were Joanna McCaughey in the 6th minute and the 43rd minute of the first half, she also assisted on Casey’s third goal. In addition, Bellini scored herself in the 35th minute and Melanie Meyer in the 40th minute of the first half, and Christiane Lessa finished off the game with a goal in the 73rd minute of the second half. Coach Marc Miceli said, “We took the Orlando Falcons by storm and we put the game out of reach. The second half, I let most of my players from the bench play as we had another game scheduled for the next day. Overall, I was happy with my team’s performance.”

On Saturday June 21, 2008, the Kickers played at home versus the F.C. Thomasville Dragons. Again, the Kickers were off to a great start when Joanna McCaughey scored in the first 53 seconds of play off an assist from Betty Ann Casey. Casey scored just five minutes later with an assist from Natalie Bellini. Only nine minutes later Deidre Bass (moving up from defense to midfield) scored off an assist from Casey. The skies were opening up with a downpour of rain as the Miami Kickers kept on pressing the Thomasville team. At the 20th minute of play, Bellini scored off an assist from Elanna Brady. In the 23rd minute Bass unleashed a 40-yard rocket to catch the goalkeeper in total amazement for her 2nd goal of the evening. In the 56th minute of the 2nd half, Christiane Lessa scored on a perfectly placed header into the corner of the net off an assist from Stephanie Quinones. Coach Marc Miceli said, “We came out with high intensity and speed. We took the Thomasville team by surprise with our control and precise finishing. The Thomasville team had not seen our full team the first game we played them in Georgia on May 31st. Many of my players had not traveled to Georgia and we were thin in reserves but we accomplished our goal in Thomasville with a 2-1 win. This time, at full strength, we settled the game after the first 30 minutes of play and gave the opportunity for other players to get time on the field. Unfortunately, the lighting and rain were really coming down and the referees were forced to end the game with the cooperation of both coaches in the 59th minute of play.”

The WPSL top stats lists are filled with players from the talented Miami crew. Casey leads the league in points (24) and is tied for first in goals with 9 and 2nd in assists with six. Teammate Quinones is ranked first in assists with 8 and tied for 8th in total points with 10 of the top 10 scoring leaders of the WPSL. Other Kickers on top of the leader board are McCaughey 9th in goals with four, and Bellini & Brady tied for 9th in assists with four apiece. The Kickers lead the conference in goals scored.


Solidly in second place in the Sunshine Conference with 5 wins and 3 losses the Kickers face the Puerto Rico Capitals again this Friday, June 27th at home at 7:00 pm and then host their last home game on Thursday, July 3rd at 7:30 pm versus the Brevard County Cocoa Expos. They finish the season away in Orlando on July 5th versus the Florida Surge and July 12th in Palm Beach versus Palm Beach United.

The team boasts players from local high schools (American Heritage-Plantation & Hollywood Hills), college graduates and current undergrads (from UM, FIU, Jacksonville State, Nova Southeastern, Barry, Stetson, Providence, Gardner-Webb, University of Tampa, Christian Brothers, St Thomas, and Manchester), former international team members (Israel, Finland, Jamaica) and professional teams (Iceland). Rounding out the roster are April Perry, Alexis Hernandez, Samantha Cromartie, Karissa Jensen, Tiffany Rolfing, Christina Gent, Victoria Bujalski, Tamara Kochen, Brittany Gonzalez, Elisa Pirenen, Keassiand Foster, Amie Nappi, Natalie Simon and Melissa Weirich.

Home games are played at American Heritage-Plantation, 12200 West Broward Boulevard in Plantation. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children with local youth club soccer players wearing their team jerseys admitted free. For more information on the team, visit the website at www.miamikickersfc.com or the league site at www.wpsl.info.