My City May 2022

MYSPORTS

A shley Barron (University of Cincinnati), a center back, made the UWS Midwest Division second team last season and is the two-time American Athletic Conference De fensive Player of the Year and a three time, rst-team All-AAC pick. “I know we are going to do very well in our rst season in this new league,” Barron says. “We have more depth than last season and many players who are ready to make an impact. We’ll have a very competitive practice atmosphere which will really help us in game settings.” Outside back Zoe Hudson (Bowl ing Green), also a second-team UWS Midwest Division choice, will be with the team for the rst part of the season before she joinsŠe Philippines National Team. Anchoring the defense will be return ing goalkeeper Haley Craig (Stanford), a recent member of the under-age-19 national team. She has also been part of the national U17 and U15 squads. Another goalie is Emma Martin (Butler), a Big East All-Freshman Team member, who gave up a scant .73 goals per game last season while posting a 15 4-1 record with nine shutouts, 15th in the nation, and an .805 saves percentage. Midelder Sami Lopez (Oakland) is a two-time Horizon League rst-team pick and made the All-Region third team last season when she topped the league in points (19) and points per game (1.73), tied for rst in goals (sev en) and was second in assists (ve). Forward Alexa Sabbagh, Lopez’s college teammate, was a UWS 2 rst team pick last season and is a two-time, Horizon League second-teamer. She

also became the rst Oakland player to score three goals in a game since 2016. Outside back Abby Werthman (Ma donna University) was a rst-teamWolver ine-Hoosier Conference pick last season, nishing with 12 goals and four assists.

(Iowa) and Ella Karolak (Illinois) and ¤eet forward Joyelle Washington (Georgia). Joining them are current high school standouts Remini Tillotson (midelder, Rochester Adams), Isa Agrusso (defender, Birmingham Marian) and Kayla Shuk (goalkeeper, North Farmington).Tillot son has signed with TCU, Agrusso with Michigan State and Shuk with Aquinas. Hudson and the Bucks began discussing a partnership last fall when the USL announced it was forming a women’s league. “Part of our mission and ethos is to play the absolute best competition in the region,” Hudson says. “We feel the (USL) o¦ers the best competition currently. After some conversations with (Bucks President) Costa Papista, we made the transition and have been welcomed with open arms.” Papista, who has overseen bringing the Ontario Hockey League’s Flint Firebirds and the Bucks to Flint, is elat ed to welcome another team to the city. “We are excited to partner with Eddie Hudson to bring this elite-level soccer franchise to the area,” he says. “Like our men’s side, the women will represent some of the top pre-profes sional players in North America. Fans will have an opportunity to see the future National Women’s Soccer League stars and matches will be family friendly and a¦ordable. We can’t wait to kick o¦.” ®

Among the new faces is center back Caitlin O’Malley (Butler), an All-Big East Freshman team pick in 2020 and a major reason the Bulldogs’ have allowed only .85 goals per game the past two seasons. Other newcomers include defenders Chloe Woodbeck (Purdue), a 2019 Mich igan Dream Team choice, Miah Schueller family friendly and affordable.” Costa Papista “Fans will have an opportunity to see the future National Women’s Soccer League stars and matches will be

Olga Moonlight / stock.adobe.com

For more information, see flintcityafc.com.

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