FC Surge Announce Roster for 2016 WPSL Season
FC Surge name its 2016 roster as the Miami club prepares for its fourth year in the Women’s’ Premier Soccer League. The Surge welcome Florida Krush on Saturday to kick off league play then hit the road for its second match against Treasure Coast Dynamites on Sunday to conclude the weekend.
Soccer News: FC Surge announced its roster for the 2016 season. With a mix of WPSL veterans and new college players, the Surge believes this will be its most successful season yet. The Surge is entering their 4th year in the Women’s’ Premier Soccer League and competes in the Sunshine Region alongside Florida squads from Boca Raton, Port St. Lucie, Fleming Island, Winter Park, Montverde, Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Fort Myers. The Sunshine Region is part of the South Division of the league which includes the Southeast Region (TN, AL, GA, NW FL) and the new Carolinas Region (NC, SC). The league itself boasts over 100 teams across the country this season, a record level in its 18th year of operation making it the largest, most successful women’s amateur league in the world.
New Head Coach Ramiro Vengoechea and Assistant Coach Rafael Arias have assembled players from around South Florida who currently play or have played at some of the top college programs across the country. Founding members Rochelle Wimbush (Princeton), Elanna Brady (Barry), and April Perry (FIU) return for their fourth season, and teammates Chrissy Gratz (East Carolina) and Gabi Sosa (FAU) come back for a 3rd year. Also from FAU Sophie Sanchez returns to the Surge from a season spent with Tampa Bay Hellenic, and FAU Alum Christina Chang joins the team from the Florida Sol. Newcomers Mimi Godoy, Samantha Lujan, and Alex Mastrobuono round out the (FAU) contingent. Ali DeVito (Darton), Megan Dias (Wayne State), Jaime Gruber (Marshall), Sara Mira (St Thomas University) and Johanna Rathbun (University of Tennessee at Martin) are all returning for a 2nd season with the team.
Other current college players joining the team for the first time are Melanie Monteagudo (UF), Bridgett Callahan (UCF), Shelby Denkert (Campbell), Nicole Harris (Troy), Christine Hoynack (Bentley), Nicole Baldassini (NJIT), Alyssa Rodriguez (Radford), Dani Frese (GWU) and (UM) Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce. High School seniors Emely Sosa (Kennesaw State) and Morgan Lang (American University) come to the team to prep for their freshman college year. Also new to the squad are college alums Christina Barbour (Lander University), Courtney Jenista (Stetson), Jenna Lippi (Brookdale Community College) and Erika Bayon (William & Mary Club Soccer).
The Surge begin league play on June 4th with a 7pm home match versus Florida Krush, and travel to Port St Lucie on June 5th for a game against Treasure Coast Dynamites. June 11th finds them traveling north to Fleming Island to face Florida Sol and home again for back to back games June 18th (7pm) vs Tampa Bay Hellenic and June 19th (12noon) vs Pinellas County United. The final home game on June 25th (12:30pm) brings in Palm City FC. Cross county rivals Team Boca Blast host the Surge on June 29th at 7:30pm and the final regular season game will be played in Montverde versus new team Orlando Kicks. Surge plays its home matches at North Miami Stadium, 2555 NE 151 St. North Miami, courtesy of field sponsor Madame Gougousse Haiti Cup. Tickets are only $5 (kids under 16 free). The team is sporting new Squadra uniforms this season thanks to Guixens Food Group, and gratefully acknowledges its title sponsors OHL Arellano, Barton Malow, and Meisner Electric.
Playoffs for the top 6 teams in the 9 team region take place on July 16-17, location to be determined by seeding. The final two teams will compete in the Division Playoffs to be hosted by Florida Sol in Fleming Island on July 23-24 versus the winners of the SouthEast and Carolinas Divisions. The Division Champion will travel to Columbus, Ohio July 30-31 to represent at the WPSL Championship Final 4 Weekend.
Source/Photo Credit: FC Surge
