John Santos will be joining the Pali Blues this season as a guest writer, reporting on the lastest and greatest on your Pali Blues, as well as the world of soccer. With the clock ticking down to the 2010 WPS Draft, speculation swirls regarding which Pali Blues alumi will soon be joining the professional ranks. But before we delve into who will leave the Pali Blues organization for the pastures of WPS, lets look back at those who left our family last year, and see what has happened to them since.
It’s only fair that we first discuss fan favorite, Jill Oakes. After all, she was the 1st player from the Pali Blues to ever be drafted by the WPS through the General Draft (for domestic and international based players). The Tarzana native was drafted 2nd overall by FC Gold Pride in Santa Clara. Surprisingly, Oakes was cut by the Pride before ever suiting up for them. After being released, she was picked up by the Chicago Red Stars. Not only did she make 15 appearances for them, she also became a teammate once again with Bellflower native Danesha Adams. (For a complete account of Jill’s inspired journey check out her blog, posted on the Blues website.) As for Adams, who was drafted 6th overall in the WPS draft made 12 appearances for the Red Stars. Though she did not find the net as often as she did for the Blues – due in large part to struggling with the injury bug – she did catch the eye of the expansion Philadelphia Independence, and is slated to return to her goalscoring ways in 2010 season.
In between Oakes and Adams, defender Amy LePeilbert was the 4th player selected in the draft. She went to the Boston Breakers where she made 19 starts throughout the season on her way to being named WPS Medlmmune Defender of the Year (no surprise to Blues fans). Along the way she was named to the league’s Best XI, earning a place on the All Star Team, as well as anchoring a defense that allowed the fewest shots on goal per match (4.45) as well allowing a maximum of one goal per match on average.
Another defender taken from the Pali Blues at the end of 2008 was Kendall Fletcher. Selected as the 3rd pick in the second round of the draft by the Los Angeles Sol, Fletcher only played one match before being dealt to the St. Louis Athletica. It was there however that she started 15 times for them and contributed with three assists throughout the season. These assists were second most assists by a player on the team, and put her in eighth place on the list of assists in the league. At the conclusion of the inaugural WPS season, Fletcher’s locale changed yet again to that of Australia’s W-League. Courtesy of a loan by the Athletica, she ended up with the Central Coast Mariners where she scored 4 goals in 10 appearances for the team. Thanks in part to her efforts, the Mariners finished 2nd in the league.
Kandace Wilson, yet another defender, found her way to the starting lineup of the FC Gold Pride after being drafted 6th in the 2nd round of the draft. However a chance encounter with one of the best players on the planet, Marta, after only eight matches ended her season. Wilson sustained a hip fracture in the 90th minute during a match against the Los Angeles Sol. Speaking to FC Gold Pride’s official website (womensprosoccer.com/bayarea), Silicon Valley Sports Medicine Doctor Tiffany Gorman said that the fracture would have her sidelined for 8-12 weeks, but would not require surgery.
“We’re looking forward to seeing Kandace rejoin the team the team while she recovers and rehabs, and we are optimistic she will make a full recovery for next season."
Another player drafted by FC Gold Pride was Liz Bogus. Having come from a soccer background (her father played collegiality at BYU), Bogus had the ambition to play professional soccer since the age of 12. But much like fellow draftee, Jill Oakes, she never suited up for them. She was however picked up off waivers by the Los Angeles Sol just prior to the season, where she would go on to appear in seven matches, primarely as a vital spark plug off the bench.
The final draftee from the General Draft was midfielder India Trotter who was selected by the St. Louis Athletica. At the time of the draft however, she had already signed a contract to play for FFC Frankfurt of the Women’s Bundesliga in Germany. While in Germany, she scored one goal and appeared 10 times for the team (seven in league matches, and three times in UEFA Cup matches). Shortly thereafter, Trotter announced her retirement from Soccer in order to return to school.
Speaking to the teams official website (http://www.ffc-frankfurt.de):
“I can’t imagine a better team and environment to end my career….I would like to pursue my studies in media management in the United States.”
With the General draft out of the way, a few more Pali Blues would part ways with us courtesy of the College draft. The first would be San Diego native Carrie Dew who was the 5th selection in the 2nd round. Picked by FC Gold Pride, Dew played in 17 matches throughout the season while logging over 1,400 minutes on the field and scoring one goal (4/11/09 vs. Sky Blue FC). Two picks later, midfielder Brittany Klein, was selected by the Chicago Red Stars where she joined former Pali Blues Jill Oakes, and Danesha Adams. She would make 20 appearances with the Red Stars while providing three assists, and scoring one goal.
Up next in the draft were the goalkeepers Karen Bardsley, and Valerie Henderson. As the 4th pick in the 3rd round, Bardsley was picked up by Sky Blue FC. She only made four appearances during the season. She was also called up by the English national team to represent England at the UEFA Euro 2009 Women’s Championship. She didn’t see any playing time, but backed up starting goalkeeper Rachel Brown as they reached the final. Only to be beaten by Germany 6-2. Henderson, the 5th pick in the 5th round, became a member of the Los Angeles Sol. The former United States U-20 member only saw action in one match during the season as she backed up Canadian international, Karina LeBlanc.
The last Pali Blue to find her way to the WPS was Mele French. Selected in the 9th round of the college draft, she became a teammate of Karen Bardsley at Sky Blue FC. Additionally, it should be noted that two more player, Austrailians Sarah Walsh and Collette McCallum plyed their trade with the Sky Blue in 2009. Sarah, being taken in the 2008 international draft and Collette taken as a “post-draft discovery player.” Of course, some might argue it was Coach Naimo who originally “discovered” McCallum, but that is a different discussion all together.
What we know for certain is that as the Pali Blues class of 2008 continues its endeavors a new crop of players is set to make the jump to the professional ranks. Who among them will get that long awaited shot at the big time? Who will take full advantage of it, and who will struggle before they succeed? Come January 15th and the 2010 WPS Draft, their new journey will begin. Where it can take the likes of a Kelley O’Hara, a Lauren Cheney, or a Kristen Olsen, we can only guess. As supporters, we look forward to wishing each and everyone of them the best and cheering them on as they continue to make a name not only for themselves but for their home here with the Blues.
