The Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) has announced the addition of United FC Binghamton to the growing ranks of the 70 plus team league. The upstate New York-based club will compete in the East-Northeast Division and will draw players from top regional colleges, including Binghamton University, Ithaca College and Hartwick University.
United FC Binghamton is aligned with United FC, a recently developed youth club. The team will be coached by Shane Cook, who is also Director of Coaching at United FC. Cook has over 20 years of experience in soccer in the region and has coached Broome Community College’s men’s soccer program for the past four years. He has also been the coach of the New York Section IV All-Star European men’s team for eight years and was girls’ varsity soccer coach at Chenango Forks High School. Cook holds several coaching licenses, including the NSCAA National and Advanced National licenses, the NSCAA Director of Coaching Certificate, USSF E and National D licenses and a New York state coaching license.
Cook and team sponsor Loren Illsley of T&M Excavating developed United FC Binghamton after the disbanding of the Albany Alleycats following the 2011 WPSL season left the region without a high-level women’s soccer program. The team chose to join the WPSL because of the league’s commitment to women’s soccer as well as its size and strength.
United FC Binghamton will bring a high level of talent from colleges across upstate New York and beyond, as well as a dedicated and enthusiastic fan base. The team will partner with New York State West Youth Soccer to extend their reach. “We plan to work with the state’s recreational team to get as many players exposed to WPSL as possible,” says Cook.
United FC, the team’s aligned club, prides itself on placing women soccer players at the highest level of college soccer they can reach. Girls graduating from the club after U-18 regularly receive offers to play in college at their level. With United FC Binghamton, the club will now have a WPSL team that these girls can strive for.
“After [the girls] went away they were just gone, and we felt this was an injustice because most of them wanted something more during the summer,” explains Cook. “That led us to the WPSL. This is a great place for our college and post-college players to sharpen their trade.”
Looking to be competitive in the division from the start, United FC Binghamton has already signed 18 players for the 2012 season, many from local colleges and universities. Among those already signed are Kaitlyn Cook, Emily Nuss, Jamie Holiday, Sarah Furminger and Candice Rolland from Binghamton University, All-American Rachele Paladino from Ithaca College, and Mallory Illsley from Canisius College.
Eighteen-year-old Illsley is typical of the young women who will play for United FC Binghamton. With fourteen years of soccer experience under her belt, the chance to continue to play in the summer with a WPSL team was an opportunity she could not pass up.
“It will be the hardest competition and the highest quality of soccer, without going pro, compared to my other options,” Illsley explains. “I’ve played soccer for so long that it seems to be such a natural part of me. This team is a great opportunity to help me for the next level and keep my skills sharp for Canisius College. I can play here in the summers and even after college, and be part of developing something people want to see.”
Cook plans to have players from United FC Binghamton involved in the community before and during the season. He plans a number of meet-and-greet events, including soccer clinics and visits to local soccer camps. “Our club’s motto is ‘One Club, One Passion, One Community,’ and being a part of the WPSL helps us accomplish this,” Cook says.
