Sky Blue Adds Badgers Brown, Walsh for 2008

Brown is a veteran of the W-League with five years of experience while Walsh will be making her W-League debut. Brown formerly played with the Windy City Bluez from 2001 to 2004 before switching to the Boston Renegades for the 2005 season.

“Both Marisa and Taylor are strong offensive players and I’m hoping that they will both have a direct impact on our team this season,” said Jersey Sky Blue coach Denise Reddy. “Marisa has experience in the W-League and abroad while Taylor comes highly recommended.”

Brown appeared in every game but one during her four years at Wisconsin making 92 starts and setting a school record for most appearances. As a senior in 2005, Brown helped the Badgers to a 13-9-2 record and the Big Ten Tournament championship. The Evanston, IL native finished her final season with two goals and 10 assists while earning All-Big Ten first team, Big Ten All-Tournament team, and All-Great Lakes Region honors.

With the Renegades, Brown racked up 14 goals and seven assists for 35 points placing her second in the W-League in goals and third on the 2005 scoring leaders list. She earned W-League All-Eastern Conference honors as the Renegades qualified for the Northeast Division playoffs. Brown also played the 2007 season in Sweden’s First Division with Danmarks IF.

Walsh has one more year of eligibility remaining after suffering a knee injury early in her freshman season in 2004. In 63 career appearances, the Madison, WI native has 14 goals and 12 assists for 40 career points. In 2006, she was named the Badgers’ Offensive MVP after posting six goals and five assists for 17 points. She also started 15 of 24 games and contributed three goals and three assists for nine points in 2005 when Wisconsin captured the Big Ten Tournament title.

Season tickets and group packages are available now through the Sky Blue Soccer website for Jersey Sky Blue’s second season in the W-League. Sky Blue will open the season on May 10 when it travels to Framingham, MA to face the Boston Renegades. Jersey Sky Blue opens its home schedule on May 31 when it hosts Boston in a return match at 7:30 pm at Drew University's Ranger Stadium in Madison, NJ.

SKY BLUE PROFILE: Marisa Brown

• Hometown: Evanston, IL
• Born: October 19, 1983
• Former member of the United States Under-21 National Team pool in 2006
• Played in the W-League with the Windy City Bluez (2001-2004) and the Boston Renegades (2005)
• Racked up 14 goals and seven assists with the Renegades in 2005 to finish second in the league in goals and third in scoring with 35 points
• Named to the W-League All-Eastern Conference team in 2005
• Played for Danmarks IF of Sweden’s First Division in 2007 finishing with seven goals
• Signed for FC Indiana in 2006
• Starred at the University of Wisconsin from 2002-2005 starting all 92 games she appeared in while setting a school record for appearances
• As a senior, helped the Badgers to a 13-9-2 record and the Big Ten Tournament Championship in 2005
• Finished the season with two goals and 10 assists in 24 games
• Earned NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region second team and SoccerBuzz All-Great Lakes Region first team honors
• Named to the All-Big Ten first team and Big Ten All-Tournament team finishing with two assists in Wisconsin’s 3-1 victory over Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament championship game
• As a junior in 2004, posted four goals and three assists in 23 games as the Badgers went 16-6-1
• Named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team
• As a sophomore in 2003, had a goal and an assist for the 10-9-2 Badgers
• As a freshman in 2002, earned SoccerBuzz All-Great Lakes Region freshman team and Big Ten All-Freshman Team
• Posted two goals and one assist as Wisconsin went 13-9-3
• Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors (2003-2005)
• Earned All-State honors scholastically for Evanston Township HS, helping her team to an undefeated record and a state championship in 2002 while scoring 24 goals and dishing out 21 assists
• Played on the club level for the Windy City Pride

SKY BLUE PROFILE: Taylor Walsh

• Hometown: Madison, WI
• Born: March 6, 1986
• Has one year of eligibility remaining at the University of Wisconsin after red-shirting due to an injury during her freshman season
• In 2007, recorded four goals and one assist in 17 games – all starts
• In 2006, started all 19 games and led the team in goals with six goals and five assists for 17 points
• Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2006
• In 2005, started 15 of the 24 games she played in recording three goals and three assists for nine points
• In 2004, started the first three games of the season and posted a goal and three assists before suffering a season-ending knee injury
• Played on the scholastic level at Madison East High School earning all-state honors
• Member of the Madison 56ers Capital Elite club team