The Western New York Flash announced that they have re-signed McCall Zerboni and Alex Sahlen for the 2012 Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Elite League season. The two players were a part of the Flash’s 2011 Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) Championship squad. Zerboni and Sahlen currently reside in the Western New York area where they coach at Sahlen Sports Park, the official training facility of the Flash, and are actively involved in community events. After the WPS suspended the 2012 season, Western New York Flash and Boston Breakers joined the newly-created WPSL Elite League. The new league also includes former WPS club Chicago Red Stars, WPSL teams ASA Chesapeake Charge, FC Indiana, New England Mutiny and New York Fury, and the Philadelphia Fever.
Midfielder/forward Zerboni appeared in 14 matches for the Flash during the team’s 2011 run to the Championship title. Zerboni, who was named WPS Player of the Month in May, scored four times for Flash and assisted on three other goals during the season. She also contributed in the Championship game against the Philadelphia Independence, scoring one of the five penalty kicks.
Zerboni played at the college level for UCLA and was named the team MVP in 2008. In the 2009 WPS Draft Zerboni was chosen as the 47th pick overall by the LA Sol. Prior to playing for the Flash, the Bruins alum plied her trade for the regular season champions LA Sol in 2009 and the Atlanta Beat in 2010, combining for 30 appearances and 3 assists in her first two years in the WPS.
After having appeared in over 35 matches for the Flash Organization, defender Sahlen returns to the WNY Flash with the hope of a three-peat. Sahlen completed her college career at Niagara University, appearing in over 70 matches for the Purple Eagles and leading them to their first MAAC Championship and ECAC Tournament appearance. Following her collegiate career, Sahlen played for the Rochester Rhinos in the W-League, logging over 3,000 minutes and appearing in the league semi-final match.
Sahlen played as the starting outside back for the expansion Buffalo Flash in 2009 and 2010, registering 5 assists. In 2010, the Flash defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 to cap off an undefeated season with a W-League National Championship in Santa Clarita, Calif. The team then joined the WPS as an expansion club in September 2010. Sahlen joined the Flash in 2011, appearing twice for the Champions, and made her WPS debut in a 3-2 victory against the Boston Breakers on May 14, 2011.
Sahlen and Zerboni were selected to represent Sky Blue FC and the WPS in a ten-day tour in Japan for two matches against INAC Kobe, the top side in Japan with seven members of the Japan Women’s National Team, who are the reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions.
