Sky Blue Adds International Experience with Robinson, Stocco

The two should be in uniform when Jersey Sky Blue opens its second season in the W-League on May 10 on the road against the Boston Renegades. Sky Blue will make its 2008 home debut on Saturday, May 31 when it hosts the Renegades at 7:30 pm at Drew University.

“Leah and Stacey are established W-League veterans and we’re very excited to have them join us this summer,” said Jersey Sky Blue Head Coach Denise Reddy. “They’re coming from a very successful Ottawa Fury program and their winning ways will fit right in with our team.”

A former member of the Canada Women’s National Team, Robinson appeared for her country in both the Algarve Cup (2001) and the Pan Am Games (2003). The Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia native spent the past five seasons playing for Ottawa, which ended Sky Blue’s first season in the W-League last year with a victory in the semifinals of the Eastern Conference playoffs. She racked up 24 goals and 13 assists for 61 points in her 65 regular season appearances with the Fury. Ottawa reached the W-League Championship semifinals for four straight years during Robinson’s tenure including runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2006. She also played for the W-League’s Vancouver Breakers (2001) and Memphis Mercury (2002).

Robinson, who also spent time with Jitex BK in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan in 2006, put together a standout career on the collegiate level at Virginia Commonwealth University from 2000 to 2003. She still ranks on the school’s career lists with 21 goals (fifth) and 20 assists (second) for 62 points (fifth). While at VCU, she was named to the All-Colonial Athletic Association first team four years straight and also earned CoSida Academic All-America first team honors in 2002 and 2003.

“Leah is a solid all-around player with the ability to contribute on both sides of the ball,” Reddy said. “We’re looking for her to provide stability in the center of the midfield for Sky Blue.”

Stocco in action with Ottawa (Robyn McNeil)

Stocco boasts on her résumé a trip to the inaugural FIFA Under-19 Women’s World Championship in Canada in 2002. The former co-captain guided the Young Matildas to the quarterfinals at the FIFA World Championship taking the field against players like Marta and Cristiane of Brazil as well as Heather O’Reilly, Lindsay Tarpley, and Lori Chalupny of the United States.

In the W-League, Adelaide, Australia native played with the Boston Renegades from 2003 to 2005 before joining Ottawa for the past two seasons. She was named the W-League Rookie of the Year in 2003 and went on to notch 17 goals and 10 assists for 44 points in 40 regular season games with the Renegades. Stocco recorded three goals and one assist in 16 matches with Ottawa and also played for Jitex BK in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan in 2006.

“Stacey is a creative player that can affect the pace of a match,” Reddy said. “Her playmaking qualities and her offensive ability will strengthen Sky Blue’s offense this season.”

“I’ve seen Leah and Stacey first-hand numerous times over the past four seasons and the two of them will be solid additions to Sky Blue in the midfield,” said Jersey Sky Blue General Manager Patric Santo Pietro, who served in the same position with the New Jersey Wildcats from 2004-2006. “Leah is very steady as a center midfielder and is dangerous on free kicks while Stacey will bring attacking flair to our lineup.”

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: Leah Robinson

• Hometown: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia
• Birthdate: May 5, 1982
• Former member of the Canada Women’s National Team and Canada Under-21 National Team
• Appeared with Canada at the Algarve Cup in 2001, the Pan American Games in 2003, in two friendlies in Japan in 2004
• Joins Sky Blue for her eighth season in the W-League in 2008
• Played for the Ottawa Fury from 2003-2007 logging 65 regular season appearances over five seasons with 24 goals and 13 assists for 61 points
• Led Ottawa to four straight W-League Final Four appearances from 2003-2006 including runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2006
• Posted one goal and four assists in seven games for the Memphis Mercury in 2002
• Posted one assist in seven games for the Vancouver Breakers in 2001
• Played for Jitex BK in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan in 2006
• Starred on the collegiate level at Virginia Commonwealth University from 2000-2003
• Currently ranks second on the VCU career lists with 20 assists and fifth with 21 goals and 62 points
• Named to the All-Colonial Athletic Association first team all four years at VCU (2000-2003)
• Named to the CAA All-Tournament team in 2001
• Earned CoSida Academic All-America first team honors in 2002 and 2003
• Named the 2003 CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year in women’s soccer
• Served as an assistant coach at VCU in 2004
• Named the Soccer Nova Scotia Women’s Soccer Player of the Year in 2000
SKY BLUE PROFILE: Stacey Stocco

• Hometown: Adelaide, Australia
• Birthdate: April 3, 1984
• Former member and co-captain of the Australia Under-19 National Team
• Led the Young Matildas to the quarterfinals at the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship
• Member of the Australia Women’s National Team pool (2000-2001)
• Joins Sky Blue for her sixth season of W-League experience in 2008
• Played two seasons with the Ottawa Fury (2006-2007) posting three goals and one assist in 16 appearances
• Played three seasons with the Boston Renegades (2003-2005) racking up 17 goals and 10 assists for 44 points in 40 regular season games
• Named the W-League Rookie of the Year in 2003
• Earned W-League All-Eastern Conference honors in 2004
• Played for Jitex BK in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan in 2006
• Also has experience in the Australian National Soccer League with the Adelaide Sensation and Canberra Eclipse