With preparations for the 2011 United Soccer Leagues W-League season underway, Vancouver Whitecaps FC women announced today the return of defender Erin Uchacz, midfielder Nicole Setterlund, and midfielder/striker Abigail Raymer. Whitecaps FC also announced the acquisition of strikers Nahiomy Ortiz and Jen Stoltenberg - pending United States Soccer Federation approval.
“We’re very excited to add such young, talented players to our roster,” said Hubert Busby Jr., Whitecaps FC women’s team head coach. “Erin is physically gifted and very good technically, and Nicole and Abigail have both excelled while competing at the international level. Nahiomy is quite dynamic and can play multiple positions and Jen is a quick, explosive player. They all have bright futures.”
Uchacz, Setterlund, and Raymer each return for their second W-League season with Whitecaps FC. In addition to playing with the first team last season, the trio also played for the Whitecaps FC Prospects Women's team that won the Premier Division regular season championship and league cup titles in the Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL).
Uchacz, 19, also played her first season of NCAA Division I soccer at Oregon State University last year, starting one of her 13 appearances for 487 minutes of action. During her freshman season, Uchacz scored two goals for a total of four points. In 2009, the Port Coquitlam, BC, native was a member of the Team BC squad that captured gold at the Canada Games in Prince Edward Island. Internationally, the Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club product has been called into camp for the Canadian U-20 national team.
A native of Surrey, BC, 18-year-old Setterlund is preparing to play her first season of NCAA Division I soccer at Washington State University this fall. Along with Uchacz, Setterlund was also part of the gold medal-winning Team BC squad at the 2009 Canada Games. Internationally, Setterlund has started all 15 of her appearances for the Canadian U-17 women’s national team, scoring a goal against Chile on August 1, 2010. The 5-foot-8 midfielder captained her country to the 2010 CONCACAF U-17 Women’s Championship title in Costa Rica and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She also captained the team at the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago, starting all three matches. Most recently, the product of the Semiahmoo Soccer Club has been called up to train with the Canadian senior women’s national team in Rome, Italy, as they prepare for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.
Raymer, 18, started one of her two appearances for Whitecaps FC in the W-League last season, playing a total of 116 minutes. This fall, the native of Victoria, BC, will play her first season of NCAA Division I soccer at the University of Missouri. Internationally, Raymer has represented Canada at the U-17 international level. In 2009, she was named Canadian U-17 Women’s Player of the Year. Last year, the product of the Lower Island Soccer Association played for the side that won the 2010 CONCACAF U-17 Women’s Championship in Costa Rica before going on to appear in all three matches for Canada at the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, making one start.
Ortiz, 19, joins Whitecaps FC after playing for Victoria Stars in the PCSL. Last year, the Lower Island Soccer Association product played her first season of NCAA Division I soccer at the University of Wyoming, starting 15 of her 17 appearances, tying for the team lead with three goals and finishing second with four assists and 10 points. Hailing from Bogota, Columbia, Ortiz appeared internationally for her birth nation at the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, playing in a 1-1 draw against Canada in their second match of the group stage. Now living in Victoria, BC, Ortiz has been called into camp for the Canadian U-20 women’s national team.
Stoltenberg, 21, comes to Vancouver after playing four seasons of NCAA Division I soccer with the University of Oregon. A native of Mission Viejo, California, Stoltenberg is the all-time leader in assists for the Ducks with 18 and the all-time points leader with 85. Last season, she led Oregon with 12 goals and five assists, while breaking her own single-season school record with 29 points. In 2009, she registered 10 goals and six assists for 26 points, and in 2008, had 10 goals and five assists for 25 points. Prior to joining Whitecaps FC, Stoltenberg was selected in the second round (ninth overall) of the 2011 Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) draft by Philadelphia Independence.
Tickets are now on sale for the 2011 Whitecaps Women’s Soccer Series presented by Kia. Individual match tickets are available for the affordable price of $12 and online at whitecapsfc.com/wtickets. Groups and teams can receive special ticket pricing and benefits by contacting Hugh Hamilton at 778.330.1360or hhamilton@whitecapsfc.com. Tickets will also be available at the gate.
In 2011, defending W-League Western Conference champions and two-time W-League champions Whitecaps FC will play their regular season home schedule at seven different home venues throughout the province of British Columbia, as part of the Whitecaps Women's Soccer Series presented by Kia - in partnership with the Girls Metro Soccer League (GMSL).Whitecaps FC will kick off their 2011 home schedule on Sunday, May 22, at 4 p.m. PT, when they battle Seattle Sounders women at Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam, BC - hosted by Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club. Five days later, the 'Caps host Colorado Rush at Chilliwack's Exhibition Stadium at 7:00 p.m. PT - hosted by Chilliwack FC.
Whitecaps FC women’s and youth programs are made possible by the support of the Whitecaps Foundation. For information on the Whitecaps Foundation and how to become a donor, visit whitecapsfoundation.org.
