Breakers aim to shore up defense

Former Dartmouth All-American Kristin Luckenbill among 4 players drafted

October 7, 2008

After loading up on several attacking players through the first stages of assembling his team, Boston Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco picked three defenders -- including a Dartmouth College alum -- and an accomplished keeper during Monday’s Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) General Draft.

Boston selected defender Amy LePeilbet with its first round pick (fourth overall), followed by defender Nancy Augustyniak Goffi in the second round (11th overall), defender Sue Weber in the third round (18th) and former Dartmouth 'keeper Kristin Luckenbill in the fourth round (25th).

"I feel very good about today's draft," said DiCicco. "Our goal was to solidify our defense and we did just that."

Luckenbill was an Olympic gold medalist in 2004 and trained with this year's Olympic team in addition to playing for FC Indiana. She was named the WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year in 2002 after helping the Carolina Courage to the league championship. She has 14 international caps and was a three-time All-American at Dartmouth.

Luckenbill, who played for the Big Green from 1997-00, led Dartmouth to two Ivy League Championships and four-straight NCAA Tournaments including an Elite Eight appearance in 1998. A four-time First Team All-Ivy pick, Luckenbill recorded a Dartmouth-record 29 career shutouts and is second on the career goals against average list at 0.73.

This fall, she is lending her support to Dartmouth women's soccer as a volunteer assistant, working with the goalkeepers.

"Kristin is an experienced goalkeeper who brings a championship pedigree to the Breakers," said DiCicco. "No team will win in this league without an exceptional goalkeeper, and Kristin gives us that."

LePeilbet played for USL W-League champions Pali Blues Soccer Club this past year. She was named the MVP of the title game after scoring the game-winning goal against Luckenbill, who was the keeper for FC Indiana in that game. LePeilbet was an All-American at Arizona State University and never missed a start in 74 matches from 2000-03.

"Amy is a tough, athletic and smart defender who is also very good on the ball," said DiCicco. "She is in the women's national team pool and some close to the team said she would have made the Olympic team if she didn't suffer an injury which kept her from consideration."

Augustyniak Goffi, who also has ties to the Sun Devils after serving as an assistant coach at Arizona State the past two years, is no stranger to pro soccer in the United States. She played for the Atlanta Beat, along with twin sister Julie, in the WUSA from 2001-03. She played for the Arizona Rush of the WPSL this past summer after stints with FC Indiana, FFC Turbine Potsdam (Germany) and WFL Wolfsburg (Germany). Prior to playing for the Beat, she was an All-American at Clemson University.

"Nancy has world-class speed, is a very smart defender and does not get beat," said DiCicco. "She is experienced and can play centrally or out wide."

Weber was named the W-League Defender of the Year in August after a strong season with the Long Island Rough Riders in which she anchored a defense that allowed just seven goals in 14 matches. Weber was a two-time All-American at Hofstra University, where she recently had her number (20) retired.

"Sue is a young, versatile player with wonderful upside to her game," said DiCicco. "I think with some exposure from this league, she is someone that can get some looks by the full national team."

This afternoon's draft consisted of four rounds of selections of international and domestic players for all seven WPS teams.

WPS will conduct one more draft in January following two December combines for both undrafted domestic players and players who will have just completed their NCAA eligibility.

The Boston Breakers’ inaugural 21-game season (with 10 or 11 home games) will open in April of 2009 and continue through August.