ISSUE 3! JANUARY 19, 2010

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It’s Official. The Yankee U14 Strikers, U15 Blaze and U16 Stars have all been accepted to the Northeast Regional League of Region 1 for the Spring of 2010.

The Regional League schedule runs from March through April and consists of 7 games against other regional premier teams. The champion of the Northeast Regional League receives an automatic bid for Region 1 for the following year.

Typically, the schedule is played over four weekends, with two games per day to minimize the amount of travel required by each team.

“The best way to improve the quality of a Premier team is to play better competition.” said Coaching Director Wayne Mones. “Our acceptance into the Northeast Regional League provides the

opportunity for our U14-U16 teams to play some of the best teams in the New York and New England

area.The Striker schedule includes World Class (E-NY), FC Sting Bees (NJ), East Meadow (E-NY), and Explosion FC (MA).Among the teams the Yankee Blaze will play

are Albertson (E-NY), Massapequa (E-NY), New Hampshire Classics (NH), and Alleycats (E-NY).The U16 Stars schedule includes Brentwood (E-

NY), Fortuna (RI), HBC (E-NY), MPS (MA) and Lake Grove (E-NY).

“I am very proud of our girls. This is a great recognition of all they have accomplished and presents an opportunity for them to raise the bar even higher for themselves” observed Mones.

Yankee United NewsYankee United Launches Academy Program

Beginning this February, Yankee United players in the U14 through U17 age groups will have the opportunity to participate in the Club’s new Academy program. The program has capacity for approximately 40 players and provides the opportunity for players to receive additional training and evaluation by the entire Yankee coaching staff throughout the Spring season. At the end of the training program, 18 players will be selected from the program to compete in the US Club Soccer National Collegiate Showcase in Virginia Beach, July 24-27, 2010.

“For the high school age Premier player who wants to play collegiate soccer, continued development of your technical skills and increasing your tactical awareness are critically important.”

notes Program Director Nicki Pereira. “This program creates an environment that will facilitate that development. It culminates with the opportunity to showcase those talents on a national stage.”

There will be a nominal cost of per player to cover the cost of the facility rental for the

Winter training. There is no cost for the training that will be provided throughout the

Spring. Participants will be divided into two groups that will practice at 8:00 pm every other week at United Athletic Center on Monday evenings. There will be an additional cost for those players selected for the Showcase tournament.

For more information, please contact your Yankee United coach.

Strikers, Blaze, Stars Enter Northeast Regional

ISSUE 3! JANUARY 19, 2010

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Before Yale: Two-time All-New England and all-state selection at Trumbull High School... Earned first team all-conference recognition three times... Named MVP of the Class LL state championship tournament twice... Helped lead Trumbull to three consecutive state titles... Team co-captain as a senior... Scored 64 goals and had 30 assists in her career... Played club soccer for Yankee United Force…  Teams won five state championships during her tenure... Super Y-League national ODP player pool selection... Member of the Connecticut ODP from 2004-2008.

Kristen Forster (#5) carries the ba# in Yale’s 2–1 win over Penn. Forster scored the team’s second goal at 68:15, ultimately the game-winner.

PHILADELPHIA — Everything fell into place at once. At least, that’s what seemed to happen Saturday afternoon, when the Yale women’s soccer team defeated Penn on a rain-soaked pitch in Philadelphia and Princeton simultaneously grabbed a late-game 1–0 win over Harvard on the Crimson’s home turf. The combined Eli win and Crimson loss propelled the Bulldogs back into competition for the league title. “We found out [about Harvard] at halftime of our game, so we actually could not hold back our excitement,” head coach Rudy Meredith said.And things were looking good for Yale with just the second period left to play (aside from the relentless rain), as the team had taken a 1–0 lead in the 22nd minute. Back at the start of the game, Penn opened up play quickly. The Quakers — who boast, statistically, the best offense in the conference and have the league’s top attacker in Jessica Fuccello — got off two shots in

the first six minutes, but goalkeeper Adele Jackson-Gibson stopped both. It didn’t take long for Yale to respond to Penn’s attacks. Brown connected at 21:01 on a feed from forward Kristen Forster and outraced the Quaker defenders, sliding a ground shot past goalkeeper Gina Winters into the bottom left corner of net. The half closed with the Quakers outshooting the Bulldogs 7–4, but still down 1–0. And then in the 69th minute, Yale struck again. This time Forster was there, settling a throw in by Kubiuk that was flicked in front and beating the defenders and goalkeeper to score the Elis’ second goal.Down 2–0, Penn took another hit seconds later when Fuccello was issued her second yellow card of the day and removed from the game. Penn’s midfielder Sarah Friedman finally got her squad on board in the 82nd minute, when her free kick bounced through traffic and landed in the upper left corner of the goal. But Yale defense shut down Quaker offenders for the rest of the match, allowing Penn only one more shot and securing Yale’s win. The game marked Penn’s first loss at home all season. Meredith said he was especially relieved about the competition’s outcome because his team is still less than 100 percent. The squad had only 16 healthy field players Saturday.

Yankee Alumni Profile: Kristen Forster

ISSUE 3! JANUARY 19, 2010

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HIGH SCHOOLUPDATE

U15 BLAZE PLAYERS EARN CONFERENCE HONORS

It is always rewarding to be recognized for what you do well. As a high school athlete, getting that recognition at a young age is all the sweeter. Two players from the Yankee United U15 Blaze experienced that recently with their selection for All Conference honors.

Kasey Butts, a freshman at Jonathan Law High School, was named to the All Conference team for Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC), a 22 team conference that includes schools from both New Haven and Fairfield Counties.

Ordinarily making the Varsity team as a freshman is its own reward. At Jonathan Law, Butts played in 16 games and started in 13 of them. She scored 5 goals and had 4 assists.

Kasey also participates in the CT Olympic Development Program and is an honor student at Jonathan Law. She won a CAS Scholar Leader Award in 2009.

Sophomore Nicole Peterson had a similar experience at soccer powerhouse Lauralton Hall. She was named All Southwest Conference for the Patriot Division.

For the year, Peterson played in 24 games and started all of them. Those games included regular season, conference championship and state tournament games on a highly successful Lauralton team. Peterson scored 3 goals and had 3 assists.

Nicole is an honor student at Lauralton Hall where she participates in the AP level curriculum. Nicole also has participated in CT ODP program and was selected to participate in their travel tournaments in 2007 and 2008.

“I am very proud of what these girls have accomplished as young high school players.” said Coach Nicki Pereira. “It is a tribute to them that they continue to excel in their academics as well.”

In our next issue we wi# feature A#-Conference selections 'om the U16 Stars.

Kasey ButtsJonathan Law HS

Nicole PetersonLauralton Ha# HS

ISSUE 3! JANUARY 19, 2010

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An Opportunity to Lend a Helping HandOn December 15th Jamie Botteon, goalkeeper for

the SoccerPlus Connecticut U16s, was diagnosed with ACUTE MYEDLOID LEUKEMIA (AML). She has been admitted to Connecticut Children's Hospital in Hartford, where she will undergo chemotherapy and other treatments during the course of the next 4-6 weeks.

The Botteon family have been members of SPC since the club's inception and Jamie has repeatedly proven herself to be a remarkable young lady. She has flourished as a goalkeeper for the U16s and for Bristol Eastern High School and is a member of the Region 1 ODP Program. She is known for her strong, positive leadership, her smile and her tremendous willpower and attitude.

While no family should have to go through such a difficult time, the Botteon's have fought this battle before - for 11 years - with their son and brother Wade. Wade showed tremendous maturity and grace and dealt with challenges far beyond his years, but ultimately passed away from his battle with leukemia at the age of 13 in 2003. During his life, Wade received three bone marrow transplants from his perfect-match sister, Jamie. Here are three ways you can help Jamie:

(1) You can mail a check to:

SoccerPlus Families Care Attn: JB24 Fund 1477 Park Street, Suite 13C Hartford, CT 06106

No amount is too little, 100% of every dollar will go directly towards helping this wonderful family.

(2) You can send Jamie a Message: JAMIE@SOCCERPLUSEDUCATION.ORG

A message can be short or long, serious or funny but by taking the time to write - she knows we've got her back. Write even if you don't know Jamie personally and write as often as you'd like! Some will be posted on the website (indicate if you would not like your message posted). All will be delivered to Jamie.

(3) You can come to Jamie's Super Bowl Sunday Bowling Event

Sponsored by the BEHS (Bristol Eastern) football team and booster club

When: February 7, 2010 Where: Spare Time Bowling AlleyTime: 10am - 12pm Cost per bowler: $12.00 per person (All

proceeds go directly to Jamie)Teams will be made up of 4-6 bowlers per

lane. YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER YOUR TEAM -- THANK YOU!!

Registration can be made by calling 583- 1669.

Any questions please contact Karen at knrrose@aol.com or Coach Archangelo. There will be a banner to sign and send well wishes, plus a video diary of the day for Jamie.

All donations are tax deductible. The SoccerPlus Education Center Federal Tax ID Number (EIN) is 20-2789976.

ISSUE 3! JANUARY 19, 2010

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2010 ODP Selections

Yankee United is proud to recognize our players that were selected for the Olympic Development Program for the Spring of 2010.

Players selected for this program will be part of a pool of players that will train every few weeks, during which time they will be evaluated and rated.

From this pool, the ODP coaches will select teams to compete in Region 1 competition (Virginia in February and Rider NJ in May). 36 players will be selected for 2 teams at U15 and below. One team of 18 players will be selected at the U16 and U17 age groups.

All CT ODP players have the opportunity to attend the Region 1 ODP camp in July. At the camp, players will be evaluated and selected for the Region 1 pool and potentially the Region 1 team.

Yankee United is proud to recognize the following players who have been selected for YPDP program:

From the U12 Pride: Leah Lewis and Ali Moraveck.

From the U14 Strikers: Audrey Dannenbaum, Claire Duffy, Allie Furlo, Keely Lockwood, Aimee Manderlink, Sabrina Toole, Katie Danaher, and Eliza Paltauf.

From the U15 Blaze: Siri Andrews, Kasey Butts, Katie Coyle, Megan FitzGerald, Taylor Pratcher, Kiana Rugar, Jenna Saymon, Danielle Vallente, Samantha Washuk

From the U16 Stars: Alyssa Christo, Corina DaSilva.

We wish all of these girls the best of luck in the program!

TECHNIQUES AND TACTICS

Yankee Board MembersPresident/Coaching Director

Wayne Mones

Administrator and Registrar

Dee Demers

Treasurer

Jack Nogueira

Referee Assignor

Ed Maloney

Goalkeeper Coach

Mark Pataky