Women's Soccer: Fewer than 1,000 Tickets Remain for Washington Spirits Home Debut, Host NY Squad with Abby Wambach

Germantown, MD (April 20, 2013) - After a two-year absence, women's professional soccer officially returns to Washington, D.C. region tonight as the Washington Spirit host the Western New York Flash and reigning world player of the year Abby Wambach in their National Women's Soccer League debut at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. Tickets online at tickets.washingtonspirit.com. Box office opens at 5 p.m., gates at 5:0 p.m.

Ticket sales have been strong leading up to this opening game, with over 1,000 season ticket holders and brisk online sales this week, the team is confident of a sellout crowd today and urging fans to order online in advance to secure their view of history.

Briar Woods: Three More Falcons to College Level - Barta (Football/William and Mary), Basso (Women's Soccer/Shippensburg) and Haufler (Swim/Villanova)

(Feb. 18, 2013) - Briar Woods High School has had three more senior athletes make their college playing choices with Kristin Haufler signing her National Letter of Intent to swim at NCAA Division I Villanova, Mike Barta accepting a preferred walk on status with the William and Mary football program and Leah Basso signed her National Letter of Intent to play women's soccer at Shippensburg University. More on each:

• Senior safety Mike Barta has accepted a preferred walk on at William and Mary. Barta has been instrumental in the Falcons three straight state championship runs. He is a two-year starter at safety and coach Charlie Pierce says that Barta "did an outstanding job in our secondary. Mike was outstanding in our coverage checks, a sure tackler and a ball hawk. Mike is an outstanding student and a tremendous worker and knows what it takes to win."    
  
• Leah Basso, signed a National Letter of Intent to play Division 2 women’s soccer at Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Leah is a senior at Briar Woods and will attend Ship and play soccer this fall. 

• Kristin Haufler has signed a National Letter of Intent to swim for Villanova University starting this fall. 

Women's Soccer: Broad Run Grad Holly King Selected by Washington in National Women's Soccer League Draft

Broad Run grad Holly King

Indianapolis (Jan. 18, 2012) -- The Washington Spirit selected four of the brightest stars in NCAA women's soccer -- including Broad Run High School grad Holly King (Florida midfielder) -- in the National Women's Soccer League's inaugural draft on Friday morning at the Indiana Convention Center, bolstering the club's attack with several prolific goalscorers and further adding to the Spirits's local flavor with three draftees from the national capital region.

College Corner: Broad Run Grad Kacey Kelley Named Coastal Carolina's Women's Soccer Co-Player of the Year

College Corner with Dan Sousa

(Jan. 14, 2013) - Broad Run High School grad Kacey Kelley has been named Coastal Carolina's women's soccer Co-Player of the Year by the Grand Strand Sports Report in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Kelley was named First Team All-Big South Conference after the fall season. She scored a team-high nine goals, tied for 10th most in program history for a single season. She was ranked in the Top 10 in the Big South in goals, points and shots.

Coastal Carolina went 10-9 overall on the season including 7-4 in conference. Kelley is joined on the team by two freshman from Loudoun, her sister, Darbie Kelley (Broad Run) and Charlotte Ratcliff (Woodgrove). 

Girls Soccer: Stone Bridge's Corinne Giroux to Play Next Year at William and Mary

(Oct. 3, 2012) - Stone Bridge High School senior Corinne Giroux has verbally committed to play women's soccer next year at William & Mary. On the club level, Giroux is a defender for FC Virginia.

Giroux is the 14th Stone Bridge athlete on our Class of 2013 College Choice Chart and 17 soccer players have already verbally committed from the class.

Women's Soccer: Woodgrove SR Brittany Basinger Helps U.S. to 6-0 Win over Gambia in U-17 World Cup

Brittany Basinger

(Sept. 26, 2012) - Woodgrove High School senior soccer standout Brittany Basinger helped the United States to a 6-0 win over Gambia Tuesday in the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup in Azerbaijan.

United States struggled offensively early but got on track when Basinger, making a run from her left back spot, was brought down in the box in the 25th minute as she attempted a cross. Summer Green buried the resulting penalty kick and the rout was on.

The six goals was an all-time high for the U.S. Women Under-17 squad at a World Cup.

Girls Soccer: Dominion Junior Elysse Branton Verbally Commits to William and Mary

High flying Elysse Branton (#2) of Dominion will play at William & Mary in two years.

(Sept. 19, 2012) - Dominion High School junior Elysse Branton becomes the first Class of 2014 verbal commitment on Viva Loudoun's College Choice Chart with her early decision to play for the Tribe starting in 2014-15.

Branton, as a sophomore, led the Dulles District with 24 goals, earning first team honors. Her club team, Braddock Road, is currently ranked No. 1 nationally and she participates on the Region 1 ODP team.

College Corner: Broad Run Grad Kacey Kelly Receives Two Outstanding Awards for Soccer at Coastal Carolina

College Corner with editor Noelle Dormio

Courtesy of Coastal Carolina

(Sept 12, 2012) - Broad Run High School grad Kacey Kelly, a sophomore at NCAA Division I Coastal Carolina, has received a second honor this week for her performance in last week's women's soccer win over the Citadel as she was named Big South Conference Attaking Player of the Week and is Soccer Madness online publication's Conference Player of the Week. Way to go Kacey!

Read More about Kacey

Women's Soccer: Stone Bridge Grad Skogerboe Helps D.C. United Finish Third at W-League Championships

(Aug. 1, 2012) - Stone Bridge High School graduate Jen Skogerboe, a late-season signing, scored a goal Sunday to help D.C. United Women take third at the USL's W-League Championships in Ottowa, Canada. Skogerboe's goal came in a 1-1 game against Quebec City that United won in penalty kicks.

United started the weekend off with a 1-0 semifinal loss to host Ottawa. Here is a complete review of the weekend:

Women's Soccer: Stone Bridge's Ashley Herndon Helps D.C. United Secure Top Seed in Eastern Conference

Germantown, Md. (July 10, 2012) - Six days after adding the title of Division Champions to their résumé, D.C. United Women (10-0-1) took it one step further on Saturday night, defeating the Dayton Dutch Lions (0-6-3) 4-1 to clinch the Eastern Conference’s best record and earning the right to host the conference playoffs in exactly two weeks. 

Stone Bridge High School rising senior Ashley Herndon extended her points streak to six games with a goal and assist in the win. D.C. United Women will host the playoffs on July 21-22.

Women's Soccer: U.S. Olympic Team Member Becky Sauerbrunn to Debut with D.C. United Women Saturday

Germantown, Md. (June 22, 2012) - The wait to see Becky Sauerbrunn's world-class talents on display on the Maryland SoccerPlex pitch is finally over - the 2012 Olympian is set to make her home D.C. United Women debut on Saturday night against the Virginia Beach Piranhas and needless to say is quite excited to take the field with the W-League's hottest club.

Women's Soccer: Broad Run Grad King Scores, Stone Bridge's Herndon with Assist in D.C. United's 5-0 Win

D.C. United Women Flying High with Another Win!
(photo courtesy Tony Quinn/D.C. United Women)

Germantown, Md. (June 21, 2012) - D.C. United Women scored five goals in the first 27 minutes of the first half on Wednesday night -- including a score from Broad Run High School grad Holly King and an assist from Stone Bridge rising senior Ashley Herndon -- and would not look back, going on to beat the Fredericksburg Impact 5-0 in dominating fashion to remain in sole possession of first place in the W-League's Eastern Conference.

Women's Soccer: D.C. United Women Offering Free Youth Tickets to Tonight's Game

(June 20, 20120 - D.C. United Women's soccer team, currently on a 10-game winning streak, is offering free youth tickets to tonight's 7:30 p.m. game at the Maryland SoccerPlex. U.S. Women's soccer Olympian Becky Sauerbrunn will be on hand tonight to sign autographs from 6 to 7 p.m. as well.

To get the free tickets to the game tonight against the FASA Impact, go online before 6 p.m. and use the coupon code "youth" on the checkout screen. Up to four tickets can be ordered in each transaction. 

Sauerbrunn will make her D.C. United Women's debut on Saturday.

D.C. United Women's team has strong ties to Loudoun with Didi Haracic (Loudoun Valley High School grad), Tiffany Brown (Park View grad), Holly King (Broad Run grad), Ashley Herndon (Stone Bridge rising senior), and Ashley Manning (Loudoun Valley grad) all on the roster.

Soccer: Stone Bridge JR Ashley Herndon, Former Loudoun Valley Keeper Didi Haracic, Park View Grad Tiffany Brown to Join D.C. United Women for Summer

Special to Viva Loudoun

Ashley Herndon

Germantown, Md. (May 22, 2012) - D.C. United Women added a great deal of familiarity to its 2012 roster over the last several days, signing four of the region's top college players along with one of the nation's most highly-touted recruits, all back for their second season with the Black-and-Red. Among the four, three have Loudoun ties including Stone Bridge High School junior Ashley Herndon, former Loudoun Valley High School keeper Didi Haracic, now at Loyola (Md.), and Park View High School grad Tiffany Brown, who just finished a great career at Colorado College.

In addition, the D.C. United Women roster includes former Broad Run start Holly King, now at Florida, and another former Loudoun Valley standout, Ashley Manning, now at Virginia Tech.

Soccer: Woodgrove JR Basinger, U.S. U17 Women's Team One Win Away from World Cup

(May 10, 2012) - Woodgrove High School junior Britany Basinger and the U.S.  U17 Women's National Team is just one win away from clinching a spot in the 2012 World Cup after a 3-0 win over Mexico Monday at the CONCACAF Championship in Guatemala. The U.S., which won Group B with a 3-0 mark, now faces Group A runner-up Panama (1-1-1) in a semifinal today at 3:30 p.m.

Basinger, a Penn State recruit, has been starting at right back on a defensive unit that hasn't allowed a goal in three games, with the U.S. out-scoring opponents 18-0, and more impressively has allowed only five shots in the three contests.

Soccer: Broad Run Grad Holly King Signs with D.C. United Women

photo courtesy UF

(May 10, 2012) - Broad Run High School grad and rising University of Florida senior Holly King is one of six local players to sign with the D.C. United Women pro-am team for the summer season. Also signing, pending league approval, were Danielle DeLisle (Virginia), Katie Yenson (Virginia Tech), Molly Menchel (Virginia), Diana Weigel (William & Mary) and Katy Colas (Duke).

D.C. United Women fans will get a look at these former local youth standouts turned college stars - beginning this Saturday when Boston Breakers visit the Maryland SoccerPlex for a preseason exhibition.

"It's exciting to be bringing in top-flight players from some of the elite soccer schools in the country," said Head Coach Mike Jorden. "Florida, Duke, UVA, William & Mary and Virginia Tech all have great tradition and it will be interesting to see their styles mesh on the same field for us this summer."

Perhaps the most promising of the group of six is King, a three-year starter at Florida. King led the Gators in minutes on the pitch last season as a junior and recorded three goals and three assists. She is a former two-time Virginia state player of the year from her time at Broad Run High School, where she was also a part of two state championship teams. King played for the Washington Freedom program from 2008-2009, and this summer makes her return to the D.C. soccer scene.

Girls Soccer: Woodgrove's Brittany Basinger Makes U.S. Under-17 Women's National Team Roster for CONCACAF Championship in Guatemala

(April 17, 2012) - Woodgrove High School junior Brittany Basinger spent her spring break at the U.S. Under-17 Women's National Soccer Team Camp in Chula Vista, Calif. and was selected last week to the 20-player roster for the 2012 CONCACAF U-17 Women's Championship to be held in Guatemala City, Guatemala from May 2-12.

U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team head coach Albertin Montoya named his squad April 12 after a 10-day training camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., that ended on April 9 with a 0-0 draw against the China U-20 Women’s National Team.

Girls Soccer: Woodgrove's Brittany Basinger Selected for U.S. Under-17 Women's National Team

(March 2, 2012) - Woodgrove High School junior Brittany Basinger returned home from Florida early in February after a successful training camp with the U.S. Under-17 Women's National Soccer Team that earned her spot on the squad that will attempt to qualify for the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Azerbaijan.

"She is unbelievably happy! We are certainly celebrating out here in Purcellville!," said Brittany's mother Jackie Basinger after the family got the great news.

Basinger, a Penn State recruit, stood out on defense at the training camp in Sunrise, Fla. as the USA team beat Germany twice during the week. With Basinger starting the U.S. won 2 - 1 on Feb. 6, and 1-0 on Feb. 9.

One of 18 girls selected to play in the March La Manga Cup, an international tournament in La Manga, Spain. Following Spain, the team will attend another domestic training camp in California. The team will then travel to Guatemala in May as the US will try to earn a berth to the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan.

Girls Soccer: Woodgrove Junior Brittany Basinger Selected to U.S. U-17 Women's National Team Camp

(Jan. 12, 2012) - It has been an exciting winter already for Woodgrove High School junior Brittany Basinger as the starting point guard has helped the Wolverine girls basketball team to a 12-2 start, she committed early to play NCAA Division I soccer at Penn State University and now the talented athlete has been selected to the U.S. Under-17 Women's National Team training camp in February.

Basinger is one of 24 players invited to the training camp in Sunrise, Fla, which will be held Feb. 3-11. The camp will feature two international games with Germany. This training camp will play an important role in the evaluation of players as this age group continues to progress and prepare for CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s World Cup Qualifying tournament in Guatemala City from May 2-13. The finalists and third-place match winner will qualify for the 2012 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.

College Corner: Broad Run Grad Holly King Named Second Team 2011 All-South Region Women's Soccer

Holly King
(photo Courtesy U. of Florida)

(Dec. 19,. 2011) - Broad Run High School grad Holly King was one of three University of Florida juniors appear on National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-South Region teams. The three shares the lead among all programs represented in the first and second 2011 All-South Region teams.

Two Gators – Erika Tymrak (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) and Kathryn Williamson (McKinney, Texas) – are All-South Region first-team selections. King (Ashburn, Va.) appears on the region’s second team.