Kickers win their sixth game

6/28/08

Notching their 6th win of the season (and fourth consecutive), the Miami Kickers F.C. beat the visiting Puerto Rico Capitals F.C. 4-0 Friday, June 27th, 2008 on their home field at American Heritage-Plantation. Solidly in 2nd place, only one point behind conference leader Brevard County Cocoa Expos, the two will meet for their second match of the season at home on Thursday, July 3rd at 7:30 PM. The Kickers need to continue this winning streak to overtake the Expos for first place and a spot in the league playoffs in California in late July. The teams are part of the 7-team Sunshine Conference of the 51-team national WPSL (Women’s Premier Soccer League). Others in the conference are Palm Beach United, Florida Surge, FC Thomasville Dragons and Orlando Falcons.

Friday night’s goals were scored by league leader Betty Ann Casey (Mississippi State) with two on the night and now eleven for the season, Deidre Bass (UM) and Tamara Kochen (FIU). Joanna McCaughey (Jacksonville State) had three assists and Kochen had one. The Kickers had beaten the Capitals 2-1 on June 14th in Puerto Rico with only a small travel squad of 13 players available. At home and at full strength, with goalkeeper Kristen Casey (Creighton) in the net for the first time this season after returning from a knee injury, the Kickers showed their opponents and the large crowd of both Miami and Puerto Rican fans that they have become a force to be reckoned with. The Kickers have scored the most goals in the conference (with 36) and have several players atop the stats leader board in the league.

Also in the match for Miami were Natalie Bellini (Nova Southeastern), Elanna Brady (Barry), Christina Gent (Providence College), Brittany Gonzales (University of Tampa), Alexis Hernandez (Nova), Christiane Lessa (St. Thomas University), Melanie Meyer (American Heritage-Plantation High School), April Perry (FIU), Elisa Pirenen (Barry), Tiffany Rolfing (Barry), Tina Saario (Barry), and Rochelle Willis (Princeton). Victoria Bujalski (Christian Brothers), Kelly, Coffey, Samantha Cromartie (Barry), Emelie Lindavall (St. Thomas), Keassiand Foster, Melissa Weirich (Manchester College), Karissa Jensen (Gardner-Webb), Amie Nappi, Stephanie Quinones (Nova), and Natalie Simon (Stetson) round out the roster. Head coach and owner Marc Miceli is assisted by Lito Garro, team trainer is Stephanie Navarro.

Don’t miss the final home game of the year on Thursday, July 3rd at 7:30pm at American Heritage-Plantation, 12200 West Broward Blvd, Plantation. Tickets are $8.00 adults/$4 children with youth soccer players wearing club jerseys admitted free. The team finishes their season on the road playing on Saturday, July 5th in Orlando versus the Florida Surge and Saturday, July 12th at Palm Beach United. More information can be found on the team’s website at www.miamikickersfc.com or the league site at www.wpsl.info.