Brantley, Hambleton, Poulos Round Out Opening Roster

Brantley is a former player at Oklahoma State University while Hambleton plays for Rutgers University and Poulos plays for Winthrop University. All three will be in uniform tomorrow 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.

Brantley joins former Oklahoma State teammate Yolanda Odenyo on the Sky Blue roster after playing for River Cities FC of the WPSL in 2007. The Houston, TX native starred for OSU from 2003 to 2006 and helped the Cowgirls to their best season ever as a senior as they set a school record for wins with a 17-3-3 record. She finished her time at OSU with 13 goals in 71 career appearances.

“Ashlyn comes to Sky Blue highly recommended by her former college teammate Yolanda Odenyo,” said Jersey Sky Blue Head Coach Denise Reddy. “She’s a very aggressive ball-winner with a high work rate and she’ll give us a strong presence in the midfield.”

Hambleton became an immediate factor for Rutgers as a freshman last fall. The Scotch Plains, NJ native started all 21 games for the Scarlet Knights helping the team to a 9-9-3 mark. On the club level, Hambleton previously played for Reddy with the PDA Fury. The All-Stater out of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School helped the Fury five New Jersey State Cup championships reaching the national semifinals in 2004 and finals in 2005. She also guided SPFHS to an 18-3-2 mark and its first-ever sectional title during her senior year in 2006.

“Hams is a tenacious 1-v-1 defender with explosive speed,” Reddy said. “I had the pleasure of coaching her on the club level with the PDA Fury and I believe her leadership qualities and work ethic will make her successful at a high level.”

Poulos comes to New Jersey with a list of impressive accomplishments including time with the Australia Women’s National Team in 2005. She played in the WPSL for the Central Florida Strikers in 2006 and Rush Salt Lake City in 2007 earning All-WPSL second team and Southwest Goalkeeper of the Year honors with Salt Lake City in 2007. At Winthrop, the Wollongong, Australia native has been a three-year starter earning the Big South Conference Player of the Year award in 2006 and All-Big South honors all three seasons.

“Dimi is an extremely athletic keeper with a commanding presence,” Reddy said. “She’s been a great shot-stopper so far in training and, along with Jillian Loyden, she gives us two tremendous options in goal.”

Individual game tickets, season tickets, and group packages are available now through the Sky Blue Soccer website – www.SkyBlueSoccer.com – for the Jersey Sky Blue 2008 W-League season.

SKY BLUE PROFILE: Ashlyn Brantley

• Hometown: Houston, TX
• Born: September 18, 1984
• Played for River Cities FC of the WPSL in 2007 appearing in eight games with two goals and one assist
• Played at Oklahoma State University from 2003 to 2006
• As a senior in 2006, posted three goals and one assist in 21 games to help the Cowgirls to their best season ever with a school record for wins (17-3-3) and a No. 12 national ranking
• As a junior in 2005, played in all 19 games making 14 starts while registering five goals and three assists for 13 points
• As a sophomore in 2004, appeared in eight games and notched three goals and one assist before suffering a season-ending injury
• As a freshman in 2003, scored two goals in 23 games with 14 starts
• All-State player on the scholastic lever at Cy-Fair High School in Houston, TX
• Played for the Challenge Soccer Club winning U-15 and U-16 state championships

SKY BLUE PROFILE: Allie Hambleton

• Hometown: Scotch Plains, NJ
• Born: July 20, 1989
• Will be a sophomore this fall at Rutgers University
• As a freshman in 2007, started all 21 contests on defense for the Scarlet Knights
• Earned All-State honors on the scholastic level at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
• Posted 11 goals and 21 assists during her senior season in 2006 to lead the Raiders to an 18-3-2 record that including a Union County Tournament co-championship and the school’s first-ever North Jersey Section 2, Group III title
• Named the Player of the Year by both the Courier News and Union County
• Played on the club level for the PDA Fury and captured state cup titles from 2003-2007
• Reached the national finals in 2005 and the semifinals in 2004

SKY BLUE PROFILE: Dimitra Poulos

• Hometown: Wollongong, Australia
• Born: October 28, 1984
• Member of the Australia Women’s National Team in 2005
• Played in the WPSL for the Central Florida Strikers in 2006 and Rush Salt Lake City in 2007
• Earned All-WPSL second team and Southwest Goalkeeper of the Year honors with Salt Lake City in 2007
• Will be a senior this fall at Winthrop University
• As a junior in 2007, started all 19 games and posted five shutouts with a 1.28 GAA and a 7-8-4 record
• Named to the All-Big South first team
• As a sophomore in 2006, started 20 games and posted nine shutouts a .76 GAA and a 12-5-3 record
• Named the 2006 Big South Conference Player of the Year and earned All-Big South first team honors
• Selected to the NSCAA All-Southeast Region second team
• As a freshman in 2005, started all 19 games and posted five shutouts with a 1.41 GAA and an 8-10-1 record
• Was selected to the All-Big South second team
• Played for the NSW Sapphires in Australia
• Attended Wollongong High School