Exciting news release from FC Indiana today:
INDIANAPOLIS, IN, July 12, 2008 — FC Indiana announced the re-signing of Mexico international Monica Ocampo for the 2009 season.
Ocampo, 21, was one of twenty finalists in contention for the title of 2006 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year.
She has represented Mexico 45 times, scoring 31 goals, her most recent coming last October in a 1-1 tie with the US in Albuquerque, N.M.
“Ocampo has shown great potential with her performances for our club and the Mexican national team over the past two seasons and she will add great quality to our squad,” said FC Indiana coach Shek Borkowski.
Ocampo is the typical player Borkowski likes as she has technique, temperament and vision. In two seasons with FC Indiana, Ocampo scored 18 goals and assisted on 8 in 18 matches, while helping the club to 2007 Women’s Premier League national title and and this season to a first place finish in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) W-League - Midwest Division.
"I like technical and quick football – the way FC Indiana play," Ocampo said. “I hope to continue the success I’ve experienced here and hope to bring even more success to FC Indiana and the fans. I can play in the centre or on the wing, behind one or two strikers. I wanted to continue my career with FC Indiana because of the club’s attacking football philosophy."
“Ocampo has always been a priority, her vision and composure will be key to our future success. Her goal scoring rate at the international level is excellent,” said Borkowski.
The signing gives more credence to the Lionesses' new boast in their standard "About FC Indiana" paragraph at the end of their news releases. FC Indiana's description as "North America's only professional women's soccer team" has been replaced by:
FC Indiana is the world's leading women’s professional soccer club. FC Indiana is the most successful women’s professional soccer organization in the history of the United States. FC Indiana is two-time Women’s Premier League Champions (2005 and 2007) and winners of the 2005 U.S. Open Cup.
There may be a few people that would question the boasts above, but no one will ever accuse the Chicago Red Stars W-League affiliate of lacking self-confidence!
FYI, though FC Indiana is the Red Stars affiliate, no mechanisms have been put in place that would give the Red Stars any preference on FC Indiana players, including Ocampo.
3 comments:
Peter, is Ocampo the type/style of player that the Red Stars might look to sign in future years?
Coach Emma Hayes has said she wants an attacking team and monica's qualities certainly lend themselves to that style.
Emma and i are going to Indianapolis Thursday to see Monica and her teammates take on the Chicago Gaels.
You can talk to Emma about her planned style of soccer in person this Wednesday night at the Red Stars viewing party for the USA vs. Brazil women's national team game. The game is the final USWNT match prior to the Olympics. The Red Stars party begins at 7:30m pm at Fado on Grand and Clark in the River North area of Chicago. The game kicks off at 9:00 pm.
I will be at this "watch party," along with the other 50% of the Chicago Red Stars Ultras - T. Dunmore.
We will have many questions for Coach Emma Hayes. Both in- and a- ppropriate.
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