TOP LEVEL WOMENS TEAM TO SERVE VENTURA COUNTY

NEW TOP LEVEL WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM

TO SERVE VENTURA & SANTA BARBARA COUNTIES

The VENTURA COUNTY FUSION SOCCER CLUB, the official and exclusive United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) team for Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, is proud to announce the addition of a USL women’s W-League team to its franchise for the 2008 season.

The USL W-League is presently the highest level of women’s soccer in the US and Canada with 41 teams in five divisions nationwide. It is recognized throughout the world for providing elite competition for women, attracting some of the world’s top female players. Fusion will play in the 7-team Western Conference from May to July 2008 with home games in the 6,000-seat Buena High School Stadium in Ventura, California.

Michelle Myers, Assistant Coach for the Loyola Marymount University women’s soccer program, is Head Coach of the new team. For the past 12 seasons Michelle has been a key part of LMU’s success, helping the program to its first NCAA College Cup appearance in 2002 and consistently signing some of the best recruiting classes in the nation. The LMU 2006 entering class was ranked 28th nationally by online magazine Soccer Buzz, giving them one of the top 50 incoming classes for the fifth straight year. The team then followed through with the program's second NCAA tournament berth in 2006.

Kristy Walker, the current U15 national team assistant coach and 2004 GU-17 National Champions Coach with SoCal United, has been named as Myers’ Assistant Coach. Walker was assistant women’s coach at Pepperdine University for six years and assistant coach of CSU Bakersfield for two years.

The Fusion’s W-League team is one of a trio of new teams in the greater Los Angeles area for 2008. USL’s W-League Director of Operations Kristin Lettiere said, “We are thrilled that two of our existing PDL franchises (Ventura County Fusion, LA Storm), along with new expansion team Pali Blues, have made a commitment to the women’s game through the W-League and look forward to what should be an exciting season in Southern California soccer. As we continue to expand on the west coast, we believe that these three California clubs will serve as a solid foundation for future growth. Via their club structures and staff, each brings a unique identity to the league that will make the Western Conference very dynamic.”

Graham Smith, Fusion PDL Head Coach, said “The acquisition of a quality W-team by the Fusion will provide Ventura soccer fans with a great opportunity to view the best that the women’s game has to offer. This is yet another facet of the all-embracing soccer organization that is taking shape in our county. The appointment of experienced coaches such as Michelle and Kristy should ensure a high entertainment level. We hope that everyone will come out to support the ladies in their inaugural season.”