DiCicco, Weimer Returning to WPSL

Conn. Natives Stay With SoccerPlus CT; BC Product Also Returns

February 6, 2008

DiCicco, of Wethersfield, Conn., will continue to coach SoccerPlus for one more season despite being hired has head coach of the U.S. Under-20 women’s team and the Boston Breakers of the new Women’s Professional Soccer, which doesn’t start until spring of 2009.

Weimer, from New Haven, is coming off a season in which she was named the WPSL’s East MVP and was a first team all-league selection.

Tiffany Weimer will return to the WPSL's SoccerPlus CT the 2008 season.

Meanwhile, as the 2006 WPSL National Champion Long Island Fury will have their Final Four MVP and Boston College standout Kelly Henderson (2007 Third Team All-WPSL) to rely upon again - alongside the speedy & dangerous Alaina Beyar.

The Reds will compete in their second season in the WPSL, the highest level of women's soccer in the U.S. and are looking to defend their 2007 National Championship in the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) Cup. DiCicco - the former Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) commissioner who led the U.S. Women's National team to the 1999 World Cup title and the 1996 Olympics Gold Medal - will direct the SoccerPlus CT Reds as they take the field again this summer.

"I am very excited about the SoccerPlus Connecticut Reds second season in the WPSL," said DiCicco. "The WPSL provided an excellent competitive atmosphere for players to be challenged and develop. Our goal remains the same... to win the WPSL Championship, defend our National Championship and help players continue their evolution as they prepare for the professional league re-launch, their college seasons and a future with National Team Programs.

"Coaching this team is so exciting for me. Our players are educated, articulate and polite. These are elite players. We have future professionals, current and future national team players and they are fun to coach. I love being a part of their development and soccer dreams."

Last season, Weimer finished the season as the WPSL's leading goal scorer (14) and in points (34) and was second in assists (6). Weimer's other highlights in 2007 include being named Connecticut's top female athlete and participating with the U.S. U-21 National Team in Alabama where they defeated China and Trinidad & Tobago.

"I'm really excited about signing with the Reds again this year," said Weimer. "We had a great inaugural season in 2007 and we look to build upon that. On a personal level being a part of this club and working with Tony I have been able to develop as a player and feel prepared to go on and play at the next level. It is a real privilege to be on this team."

Long Island is very happy to announce that their star midfielder in Henderson will be returning to the team for the third consecutive season. Now a sophomore at Boston College, Kelly was named All-American, All-State, All-Long Island and All-County as a senior at Baldwin High School. She was a member of the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program team for five years and has worn the red, white and blue of the U.S. Under-20 National Team, playing in four tournaments for the United States last year.

"Kelly has an unbelievable engine and is a physical specimen with a great mindset for the game," said Fury head coach Paul Riley. "She is tactically way ahead of her years and is a superb all-around player. She can mark, defend, attack, take on players, is great in the air and a brilliant leader both on and off the field."

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