With their inaugural home game in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Elite Leauge looming Sunday, May 20, the Chicago Red Stars have announced the addition of several returning players. All of the players were elements of the 2011 Red Stars team that fell just short in the WPSL Championship match, and they look to send the Red Stars to similar heights in this year’s new WPSL Elite League. Headlining the group is a former Red Stars’ Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) player, Elise Weber, who is now known by her married name of Elise Addis. Addis, a 24 year-old defender from Elk Grove Village, is a Notre Dame graduate who played with the Red Stars’ WPS team in 2010 and captained the Red Stars’ WPSL team last season. She is also attending law school while simultaneously participating in the league.
Kecia Morway, a 20 year-old defender from Lake Villa, and Sammy Scofield, a 19 year-old midfielder/defender from Geneva, are both current players at Notre Dame. Morway, who will be entering her junior year this fall, was a key member of Notre Dame’s 2010 Championship team and played in 20 games this past season. Scofield, who will be entering her sophomore year, played in all 21 games as a freshman for the Irish in 2011. She was also invited into camp this year for the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team.
Kara Kabellis, a 27 year-old midfielder from Lockport, is a 2007 graduate of the University of Wisconsin where she was a standout performer. She appeared on multiple All-Big Ten teams and served as a senior captain. During her career she logged 23 goals and 14 assists. She was also a member of U.S. U-21 teams during 2007.
Shayla Mutz, a 20 year-old forward from Homer Glen, is a teammate of DiBernardo at Illinois and will be entering her senior year there this Fall. She started all 24 games for the Illini this past season, recording 3 goals and 5 assists.
Jamie Forbes, a 22 year-old goalkeeper from St. Charles, will be entering her senior year at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She was named Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year in 2011 and was part of a school record-setting 18 wins on the year, along with a league-leading 11 shutouts.
Vanessa DiBernardo is a twenty-year-old midfielder from Naperville who currently stars at the University of Illinois. She led the Illini to the 2011 Big-Ten Tournament Championship as a sophomore, recording 17 goals 5 assists. DiBernardo has been a consistent performer on the U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team and is expected to feature at this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan.
Vanessa Laxgang, a 20 year-old midfielder from Arlington Heights, will be entering her junior year at Clemson this Fall. She earned 6 goals and 2 assists while playing in every match of the Tigers’ 2011 season. Niki Sebo, a 19 year-old midfielder from Downers Grove, attends Northwestern University where she started 17 of 19 games as a freshman in 2011, notching a goal along the way.
The Red Stars kick-off their WPSL Elite League season 3:00 p.m. this Sunday, May 20, at Concordia University in River Forest against FC Indiana. That will be followed by a road trip rematch with FC Indiana on Friday, May 25, in South Bend.
