The New England Mutiny have added seven more players to the roster for their 2012 Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Elite League season. With several of the players boasting National Teams experience, the Mutiny look to challenge for the top spot in the new league. Joining Mutiny for the inaugural WPSL Elite League season will be Vicki DiMartino, Alexa Gaul, Kacey Richards, Morgan Andrews, Rebecca Mays, Jenny Maurer and Kristen Mewis.
The WPSL Elite League was created as a response to the suspension by Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) of their 2012 season. Mutiny will join former WPS teams Boston Breakers, Western New York Flash and Chicago Red Stars, fellow WPSL sides ASA Chesapeake Charge, FC Indiana and New York Fury, and Philadelphia Fever. The new league begins play in May.
DiMartino is a name that is familiar to women’s soccer fans in the Northeast. Not only did Vicki play for WPSL’s Long Island Fury, so did her sister Gina who has signed with rival New York Fury alongside third sister Tina. Vicki DiMartino, who plays forward at Boston College, has played with both the U.S. U-17 and U-20 Women’s National Teams, including the 2010 CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Champions.
At Boston College DeMartino was a 2011 Preseason Soccer America All-American selection and was named to the 2010 All-America and All-ACC Teams for College Cup participants. In 2009 she helped Long Island Fury to the WPSL Championships, earning All-WPSL First Team and Co-East Player of the Year honors in the process.
“Vicki will add creativity and experience on the offensive side of the ball,” said Mutiny Director of Player Personnel Brendan Faherty. “Her experience playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the best women’s college soccer conference in the country, will be invaluable for our team at the start of the season.”
Gaul, who will play with DeMartino at Boston College next season, was the starting goalkeeper for the University of Texas for the past three years. In 2011 she started all 21 games, notching seven shutouts and posting a 1.05 GAA. For her efforts she was named to the 2011 National Soccer Coaches of America (NSCAA) All-Central Region Third Team and the All-Big 12 Second Team.
Vicki DiMartino has played at Boston College and with the U.S. U-17 and U-20 teams.
Alexa Gaul has played for the U.S. U-20 and U23 National Teams as well as the University of Texas. On the national level, Gaul was the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team for the three matches of the 2010 Four Nations Tournament in England. She also played for the U.S. U-20 team, with appearances against the Norway U-23, Germany U-20 and England U-23 teams in La Manga, Spain.
“Alexa is a proven goalkeeper at the international level,” said Faherty, “and we expect her to be one of the top goalkeepers in WPSL Elite this summer.”
Making a return to the Mutiny, Richards looks to repeat the performance that earned her a WPSL Team of the Week nod in 2011. While at the University of Connecticut Richards received All-Big East honors all four years, landing on the Third Team in 2007 and 2009, the Second Team in 2008 and the First Team as a senior in 2010. Prior to her college career she was a NSCAA/Adidas National All-American and was involved with the U.S. Youth National Teams and Region I ODP.
“Kacey will be a familiar face to Mutiny fans and we believe her versatility will be a great asset to the team this summer,” said Faherty. “She made a positive impact last summer and we are expecting much of the same this year.”
Andrews, the U.S. U-17 National Team captain, is considered one of the future stars of American women’s soccer. She was a finalist for U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year when current U.S. Women’s National Team player Sydney Leroux won the title. Andrews, who has verbally committed to Boston College for 2013, was tabbed as the 2011 NSCAA Youth Player of the Year and is a two-time NSCAA Youth All-America selection. This year she was an ESPN H.S. All-America First Team selection.
Morgan has been billed as a ‘can’t miss’ prospect,” said Mutiny owner Joe Ferrara. “To be one of five players in the entire country up for U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year speaks volumes about her abilities.”
Mays, the former captain of Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves, comes to Mutiny with two years of experience in the WPSL. She scored eleven goals and logged three assists as a forward and midfielder for the Breakers Reserves, helping the team win the 2010 WPSL Championship and reach the National Semifinals in 2011. In doing so, Mays was named a 2011 WPSL All-East Conference honoree and a 2010 WPSL All-Tournament Team member.
“Becca has been a thorn in the Mutiny’s side since she landed in the Northeast,” said Ferrara. “I was tired of seeing her score against us every time we played Boston, so we had to sign her.”
Back for an amazing tenth season with Mutiny, Maurer brings a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to the pitch. A member of the Mutiny’s original team, Maurer has shown she can play the game, being named to the 2010 All-WPSL East Second Team, the 2009 All-WPSL Second Team and the 2008 All-WPSL First Team. A four-year starter at Boston College, Maurer has trained with the U.S. U-21 and U-23 Women’s National Teams.
“After ten years there isn’t much left to say about Jenny,” said Ferrara. “It’s [because of] local heroes like her that teams like the New England Mutiny even exist. The fact that she will actually get to play in her own hometown is inspiring. I also get a kick that the first time she laced up for the Mutiny, Morgan Andrews was seven years old.”
Mewis rounds out the list of Mutiny signings. The Boston College product has put in time with the full U.S. Women’s National Team, going through a nine-day training camp this past January. Previously she played in a three-game tournament in Sweden with the U-23 National Team in June, 2011, and with the U-20 National Team in the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. A highlight of her National Team experience was the 2008 U-17 World Cup competition where she helped the U.S. to second place behind Brazil and earned the Bronze Ball.
At Boston College Mewis has received multiple honors, including All-ACC First Team in 2010 and 2011, NSCAA Regional First Team and All-America Third Team in 2011 and Soccer America MVP First Team in 2010. Also in 2010 she was a Hermann Trophy semifinalist and was on the preseason “watch list” for the 2011 award.
“It’s rare to see a college kid called into the full U.S. Women’s National Team,” said Ferrara. “Fans are in for a treat as she is confident and dynamic. Kristie will join a contingent of players with ties to Boston College – a testament to the program that Alison Foley has built.”
