Eagles' Defender Signs Overseas

Conn. Native to Play in Sweden

April 10, 2008

CHESTNUT HILL – Boston College defender Kia McNeill has signed a contract to play with Kristianstad of the professional women’s league Allsvenska in Sweden.

McNeill, a native of Avon, Conn. who is the eighth leading point scorer in the BC program, will arrive in Sweden to train with her new team after she graduates from Boston College on May 20.

“We are so happy for Kia to have this opportunity to play abroad. She is passionate about soccer and has a desire to travel internationally and this experience will allow her to do both, ‘’ said BC coach Allison Kulik. “We are pleased to have our second alumna playing professionally abroad. With the women’s pro league coming back to the United States next year; we hope many more BC players will follow alumna Sarah Powell’s lead in playing professionally here as well. One of our goals is to prepare our players for the professional and national ranks if that is what they choose to pursue.’’

McNeill is the second player in the last two years to play professional soccer overseas, as former BC defender Laura Georges is currently playing for Lyons in France. Sarah Powell, who played soccer at BC from 1997-00, played for the Boston Breakers in the now defunct WUSA.

McNeill will miss the first four games of the six month season. She will leave for Sweden on May 21 and hopefully make her debut with Kristianstad on May 24 when the team plays AK Solna.

The league competes for six months and is made up of 12 teams. Kristianstad is returning to Allsvenska for the first time since 2001. It is considered one of the most competitive leagues in women’s soccer.

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