Breakers Announce Re-signing of Kyah Simon for 2016 Season
The Boston Breakers re-sign Kyah Simon from Australia for the upcoming NWSL Season. Simon returns for her third season in the NWSL in Boston and recently played with Sydney FC during the offseason reaching W-League Grand Final.
Soccer News: The Boston Breakers announced today that Australian forward Kyah Simon has re-signed for the 2016 season. Per team and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“I’m delighted that Kyah has extended her stay at Boston. She proved in the World Cup what a great finisher she is, and I’m hoping with our improved squad that we can create plenty of chances for her,” Boston Breakers head coach Matt Beard said. “Her experience is going to be key for us this season and she is a player that I have admired for a long time and I am very much looking forward to working with.”
Simon returns for her third NWSL season in Boston, having played with the Breakers in 2013 and 2015. She debuted with the Breakers during the 2012 Women’s Premier Soccer League Elite season. In three years with the Breakers, Simon has scored 17 goals and tallied five assists. After joining the team last season following the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, Simon started all seven matches she appeared in and scored two goals on 11 shots on goal.
“I’m very happy about re-signing for the Breakers for the upcoming 2016 season. I have formed a great relationship with them since my inaugural year in 2012,” Simon said. “I’m excited to come back to Boston and get to work under Matt’s guidance, and with the squad closely in, I hope for a successful season ahead.”
This offseason, Simon played in Australia’s Westfield W-League for Sydney FC, leading the club with six goals in 13 matches. Sydney reached the W-League Grand Final on Sunday before falling to unbeaten Melbourne City. Simon scored Sydney’s lone goal in the 4-1 defeat. Since 2010, Simon has appeared in the Grand Final four times, winning it in 2010 and 2013.
Simon has been capped 57 times for the Australian Women’s National Team. Since debuting with “The Matildas” in 2008 at the age of 16, Simon has scored 14 goals and led the team to its second straight appearance in the quarterfinals at the FIFA World Cup Canada 2015.
At the 2015 Women’s World Cup, Simon scored three goals, including two in a 2-0 win over Nigeria in the group stage. She also scored the game-winner in a 1-0 victory over Brazil on June 21, 2015 to open the knockout round.
At the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany, Simon guided Australia into the knockout stage, scoring two goals in a 2-1 win over Norway, which sent Australia to the quarterfinals. She was the first-ever Indigenous Australian (male or female) to score a goal in a World Cup tournament.
“Kyah is an important player for us. I am very happy we were able to get her signed to an extended contract,” Boston Breakers general manager Lee Billiard said. “I have known Kyah for a few years now, and as a player she continues to develop each year. She’s a really technical goal scorer and someone I know we will help push us forward. We really like Kyah being part of our organization and I think she feels that Boston is her second home.”
Source: Boston Breakers. Photo Credit: Mike Gridley
