New York Fury add three more to WPSL Elite League roster
The New York Fury have signed three more players to their Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Elite League roster for the inaugural 2012 season. Joining Fury are defender Cari Roccaro, midfielder Kim Yokers and forward Meghan Lenczyk. NY Fury head coach Paul Riley is enthusiastic about the skill and talent the three will bring to the Fury lineup.
The WPSL Elite League was created partly in response to the suspension by Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) of the 2012 season. The eight-team league includes former WPS sides Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars and 2011 WPS Champion Western New York Flash. WPSL teams ASA Chesapeake Charge, FC Indiana, New England Mutiny, and New York Fury and independent Philadelphia Fever round out the league. Competition kicks off on Thursday, May 10, when the Breakers travel south to face Chesapeake Charge.
East Islip native Roccaro came up through the youth ranks of the Albertson Fury and played the last three years with the Long Island Fury. Yokers is a native of Seattle, Wash, and spent time in the WPS with FC Gold Pride. Lenczyk joins the Fury after spending the last season in WPS with the Atlanta Beat.
Roccaro, a defender, has been a part of the U.S. National Teams at the U-15, U-17 and U-18 levels, and played in the Under-17 World Cup qualifiers in March 2010, scoring her first international goal against Haiti. She made her WPSL debut with the Long Island Fury in 2009.
“Cari is the latest in a long line of top players produced by our youth club, Albertson Fury,” said Riley. “She joins Allie Long, Tina DiMartino, Michelle Betos, Jasmine Spencer and Brittany Taylor as Albertson alumni playing for New York Fury.
“Cari is a marvelous all-around player with pace, production, skill and undeniable physical qualities,” Riley continued. “She is Notre Dame bound, and the experience she will get with many of these top female players will last a lifetime. She is a thoroughbred and with the U-20 World Cup ahead of her she will be in for a busy summer.”
Yokers played nine games for Gold Pride after a four-year career at the University of California. As a member of the Golden Bears she was selected second team All-Pac-10 and third team NSCAA All-West. Yokers played three years with the U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team and competed in the Nordic Cup in Finland. She has also played in the WPSL with the California Storm.
“Kim is a savvy veteran with vision, skill and a brilliant final ball,” said Riley. “She will be an integral part of a deep and talented midfield unit that has WPS experience throughout.”
A native of McLean, Va., Lenczyk finished her career at the University of Virginia tied for third in school history in career goals (36), as well as for sixth in both career points (85) and career game-winning goals (12). She was a second team All-ACC selection in both 2008 and 2010. Lenczyk was the 14th overall pick in the 2011 WPS Draft and played in nine games for the Beat, scoring two goals.
“Meg is a bright, technical forward who knows how to finish,” said Riley. “She has a great eye for a goal and a strong professional body that makes her a handful for most defenses. She was another player we had signed in Philly prior to WPS suspension and I’m excited to work with her in New York. She will be a huge plus to our striking contingent.”
New York Fury will open their WPSL Elite League action on Saturday, May 12, when they head east to take on New England Mutiny at East Longmeadows High School.
The WPSL Elite League features eight teams: The Boston Breakers, Philadelphia Fever, Western New York Flash, Chicago Red Stars, FC Indiana, New England Mutiny, New York Fury, and ASA Chesapeake Charge.
