Jersey Sky Blue Set to Kick Off Season Two

Sky Blue easily handled Boston twice last year with 8-0 and 5-0 shutout victories but the Renegades have retooled their roster for 2008 with the hopes of returning to the W-League postseason. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at Bowditch Stadium. Fans can listen to the game live with Sky Blue Live webcasting all the action through the Sky Blue Soccer website.

Sky Blue will take a new-look side into the 2008 season with just eight holdovers on the current roster from last season. The second-year franchise does return the nucleus of the W-League’s best defense in 2007. In 14 regular season games, Sky Blue allowed just six goals led by goalkeeper Jillian Loyden, who posted four shutouts in nine games with a 7-2 record and a .51 goals against average. Defenders Fanta Cooper and Bonnie Young were mainstays in the back for Sky Blue and both are expected to be in the starting lineup against Boston.

“We’ve put together a strong squad and we’re anticipating an exciting season for Sky Blue,” said Denise Reddy, who enters her first season Jersey Sky Blue Head Coach after serving as an assistant last year. “This year the Northeast Division will be extremely competitive and we’re expecting the Renegades to be a tough opening test.”

Sky Blue’s trek to Boston will be highlighted by the return of two former Renegades players that had great success in the Red and White. Stacey Stocco joins Sky Blue this season after two years with the Ottawa Fury. Prior to that, the former Australian youth international made her mark with the Renegades earning the Rookie of the Year award in 2003 and All-Eastern Conference honors in 2004. Another new Sky Blue recruit – Marisa Brown – had a strong season for Boston in 2005 earning All-Eastern Conference honors while finishing second in the W-League in goals with 14 and third in scoring with 35 points.

Saturday’s contest will also feature a reunion of sorts for Sky Blue’s Irish international Michele O’Brien and Boston’s Lauren MacIver. After the W-League season last year, the two players became teammates when they joined Swedish side QBIK for the remainder of the Damallsvenskan season. In addition, MacIver is joined on the Renegades roster by former QBIK player Therese Lückner.

One of Sky Blue’s top additions this season is former Sweden youth international standout Yolanda Odenyo. The Uppsala native joins Sky Blue after three successful seasons at Oklahoma State University where she was named an NSCAA and SoccerBuzz All-America first team selection. She represented Sweden on the U-16, U-17, U-19, and U-21 levels. Against Boston, Odenyo will likely start as a center midfielder for Sky Blue.

Boston’s biggest offseason addition was the signing of 2007 Honda National Player of the Year Ashlee Pistorius. The recent Texas A&M graduate put together a stellar collegiate career with 81 goals during her four seasons. The Bloomington, IL native has represented the United States on multiple youth international levels.

Sky Blue opens the season with its first two games on the road including a match against the Connecticut Passion on May 17 in New Haven. Sky Blue kicks off a five-game homestand with its home opener on May 31st at 7:30 pm against the Renegades at Drew University in Madison, NJ. Tickets are available for all Sky Blue games at the Sky Blue Soccer Store at www.SkyBlueSoccer.com.