Pacific Palisades, Calif. (Tuesday, April 11, 2010) – The Pali Blues Soccer Club, back-to-back champions of the USL W-League, announce the signings of three more players to join the team for the upcoming season. Midfielders Chelsea Cline, Ali Hawkins and defender Cami Levin will join the Pali Blues this summer in the Palisades.
"We are pleased to add three more players of this quality,” said an excited Pali Blues head coach Charlie Naimo. “Each player has unique quality and will strengthen us in various parts of the field."
For Chelsea Cline, playing in the Palisades shouldn’t come as much of a culture shock, as the freshman from Des Moines, Iowa, plays her trade at UCLA during the NCAA regular season.
"I was extremely impressed with how Chelsea expressed herself as a wide player for UCLA this year,” Naimo stated. “She also has a track record of W-League success."
The three time All-American out of Shattuck-St. Mary’s High School was a member of the Minnesota Lightning during the 2008 season. In just her first match for the team, she scored a goal and assisted on another as the Lightning went on to win their season opener, 3-2. Cline has also been a part of past United States U-17 National Team and is currently in the player pool for the U-20’s that are participating for the FIFA U-20 World Cup later this year in Germany.
Ali Hawkins comes to the Palisades via the prestigious University of North Carolina soccer program. When not on the pitch, the defender who makes her home in Encinitas, California, is hitting the books. A member of UNC’s Dean List and the ACC’s Academic Honor Roll, Hawkins has also captained the Tar Heels Soccer team for the last two seasons under the guidance of legendary women’s coach Anson Dorrance.
"Ali Hawkins is one of the most dominating players in the air I have ever seen,” Naimo remarked. “She is the perfect complement to Paaske-Soresen."
And finally, Cami Levin joins the Pali Blues from the Cardinal of Stanford University. Playing at the Stadium-by-the-Sea shouldn’t be a problem for Levin, as this will be her second tour of duty with the Pali Blues, her first coming during the 2008 undefeated championship season.
"Cami will provide us with an option in the midfield and back line,” Naimo commented. “She is tenacious, fearless and plays with a winning mentality. Between Slammers, Stanford and U.S. National Teams, she brings quite the pedigree to the Blues".
A two-time NSCAA Youth All-American, Levin’s accomplishments also include three USYSA State Championships and two U.S. Soccer Club National Championships. In addition, Levin is a member of the U.S. National Team program and has seen time with the United States U-20 team. She played as recently as this past January when they competed in the U-20 CONCACAF championship, and the USA qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup to be held later this year.
The Pali Blues begin the quest for an unprecedented third straight W-League title on Saturday, May 22nd, when the Blues will host the expansion Santa Clarita Blue Heat at the Stadium-by-the-Sea, featuring a halftime Guinness Book of World Records attempt for most people in one stadium juggling soccer balls at the same time. The event, benefiting Balls Without Borders, Para Los Ninos and Kick for Nick, kicks off at 6 p.m. For more information on the historical “Beat 627” initiative, visit www.Beat627.com.
