BOYDS, Md. – The Washington Spirit Reserves failed to hold a one-goal lead against the visiting New York Magic, surrendering a pair of goals in final 15 minutes to fall 2-1 on a stormy evening at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Magic forward Brittany Pfaff knocked home the game winner in the 86th minute to doom the Washington W-League side.
Numerous area thunderstorms forced stadium and field closures throughout early Saturday evening, pushing kickoff to 6 p.m. Despite the delay, things could not have started better for the home side Spirit Reserves in the opening minutes of the match. Washington grabbed the early lead in the sixth minute when forward Tiffany Brown turned with the ball in the Magic box and flicked it over to speedy teammate Ashley Herndon. Herndon blasted her shot from close range untouched into the upper part of the New York goal for the 1-0 lead.
The Spirit Reserves peppered New York for much of the first half, outshooting the Magic 10-3. However, Washington was unable to solve the Magic defense to find the net and the half finished with the single-goal lead.
The second half began much like the first, but as time wore on New York found itself creating more and more chances. The Magic had a golden opportunity in the 71st minute, however Washington goalkeeper DiDi Haracic snuffed out the point-blank shot to preserve the slim lead.
The Magic evened things in the 75th minute when forward Brittany Pfaff slotted the ball through the middle for New York substitute Lorena Maggio to finish. Eleven minutes later Pfaff took matters into her own hands to break free near midfield and race in on the Washington goal. Pfaff’s low shot found the back corner of the goal to earn the 2-1 victory for the Magic.
The Spirit Reserves remain home next week to face the Virginia Beach Piranhas on Saturday May 18. Match time is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Maryland Soccerplex.
Potent lineup to lead club into 11th W-League campaign
Friday, May 10, 2013
NEW YORK CITY, NY. - The New York Magic has announced a trio of veteran players returning to the club for the 2013 W-League season. Aya Noguchi, Brittany Saisselin and Kelci Hegg have signed with the club ahead of its opening match against the Washington Spirit Reserves on Saturday at the Maryland SoccerPlex.
"It will strengthen our team to have veterans like Brittany and Kelci anchoring the defense," Magic Head Coach Nino DePasquali said. "I appreciate their leadership and loyalty to the Magic. Both are solid players who over the years have developed an understanding of my Italian style of defense… if the opponents don’t score, we won’t lose."
Named the head coach in February at nearby Concordia College, Hegg will continue her career with the Magic after playing all but 24 minutes of the 2012 season for the W-League side. The Vanderbilt product (2002-05) played eight matches in each of the previous two seasons and saw action in 13 of 14 games in her debut campaign in 2009.
Saisselin has also been a key member of the team’s backline during the past four years, playing in all 26 matches in her first two seasons and only missing 14 minutes in her 2009 debut campaign. The University of Maine graduate (2003-07) has played in a combined 19 games the past two seasons.
The youngster of the trio, current Franklin Pierce University defensive midfielder Noguchi played every minute of the Magic season a year ago and contributed two goals and two assists. A recent third-time Daktronics All-East Region honoree at FPU, she played all but one minute of her 2011 W-League campaign with a goal and an assist and played in 11 of 12 games in 2010, tallying three goals and three assists.
"Aya is an exceptional player and a true asset to the Magic," DePasquali said. "She is technically superior and I see her working very well with her fellow country [women], Ayaki, Hikari and Hikaru. It is a privilege and advantage to coach players who are technical and disciplined in the field. Having Aya return to the team with her leadership both on and off the field will add to the strength of the Magic."
On the offensive end of the pitch the team will see the return of former youth standout Sade Ayinde, a striker from the University of Maryland (2008-11) that played two seasons with the Magic as a teenager prior to her college career. She made her debut with the team in 2006 with 78 minutes of action and scored once in 2007 as she logged more than 600 minutes for the W-League side. The former U14-U18 youth national team pool member went on to play for the Long Island Rough Riders the past three seasons. She tallied five goals and five assists combined in 2010 and 2011, but only found the net once in five games a year ago.
A complete newcomer to the club, Mallory Peterson of Clinton Corners, N.Y. is coming off a freshman campaign at Penn State where she registered two goals and an assist in 434 minutes of play.
"I look for Sade, Brittany Pfaff and Toni Smith to add significant offensive power to the Magic front line," DePasquali continued. "They each have the tools to be a force in the League and I look forward to seeing them explode and display their talent."
NEXT GAME: Saturday, May 11 - The Magic open the season away versus Washington Spirit Reserves (Maryland SoccerPlex, 4:00 pm ET)
NEXT HOME GAME (Friendly): Tuesday, May 14 – The Magic play host to the Boston Breakers Reserve squad at the Aviator Sports Center in Brooklyn, NY (6 p.m. ET).
NEXT HOME GAME: Sunday, May 19 - The Magic play host to the Fredericksburg Impact at Old Boys High School Stadium (2 p.m. ET).
For tickets, schedule and information contact Lyndelle T. Phillips at 212-447-0932.
Magic Sign Eight from Abroad
Diverse lineup excites coach DePasquali
Friday, May 10, 2013
NEW YORK CITY, NY. - The New York Magic continued the introduction of their 2013 squad with the announcement of a eight players from abroad, including three each from Japan and the British Isles.
Joining their previously announced returning countrywoman Aya Noguchi of Japan, the trio of Hikaru Murakami, Ayaki Shinada and Hakari Sato will join the New York Magic for the season.
Shinada returns to the team for a third season after playing all but five minutes in the back line a year ago and seeing action in six games in 2011. She is currently a sophomore at Lindsey Wilson, coming off an NAIA Championship season in which she tallied a goal and five assists while starting 22 of 24 games played. As a freshman she played in 20 games and made a splash with her first two goals coming in the opening round of the NAIA tournament while helping lead her team to a stellar defensive performance that saw them allow only 11 goals.
Murakami is also a college sophomore, but is a starring midfielder for Florida State where she started 23 of 24 appearances last season after playing 20 games as a freshman.
"I am very excited to see the four players [Noguchi, Shinada, Murakami and Sato] play together on the Magic," said Magic head coach Nino DePasquali. "They each bring a wealth of experience and talent to the Magic and they learned from the same school of discipline and technique that won Japan the last World Cup. I hope they bring some of that presence to the New York Magic."
Leading a contingent of four players from Europe are a pair of Long Island University products. Toni Smith of England is returning to the Magic after playing in all 11 games last year with one goal scored. She made two appearances in 2011. Smith has been a leading striker for LIU, coming back from injury in dynamic fashion. She was the second leading scorer on the team in her debut in 2010 with five goals and three assists. After missing 2011 for injury she came back finish as the team leader in scoring with seven goals and an assist.
Smith’s LIU teammate and countrywoman Lucy Gunton-Jones, an English youth international, is a newcomer that started 17 of her 21 LIU appearances last fall as a freshman midfielder.
Charlotte McCormack of Ireland is a young goalkeeper coming off a freshman campaign at Clayton State University in which she played only five times, posting a 3-1-0 record with a 1.00 GAA with four goals allowed and one shutout.
Also among the European additions is Poland youth international Evelyn Nicinski of Bucknell. As a sophomore last fall, the midfielder was sixth on the team in minutes and fourth in scoring with three goals and three assists. As a freshman she tallied one goal while making 11 starts in 12 appearances.
Rounding out the foreign contingent is midfielder Lorena Maggio, who played in the Australian W-League a year ago for Adelaide United.
NEXT HOME GAME (Friendly): Tuesday, May 14 – The Magic play host to the Boston Breakers Reserve squad at the Aviator Sports Center in Brooklyn, NY (6:00 pm ET).
NEXT HOME GAME: Sunday, May 19 - The Magic play host to the Fredericksburg Impact at Old Boys High School Stadium (2:00 pm ET).
For tickets, schedule and information contact: Lyndelle T. Phillips at 212-447-0932.
The Magic Give the Riders,......a "Rough Ride"
New York Magic Upsets Previously Undefeated Rough Riders
The New York Magic W-League team dealt a serious blow to the Long Island Rough Rider’s women’s team in a hard fought match at Iona College in New Rochelle on Saturday, June 2, 2012. The final score was (1-0) with Magic forward Rashidah Sherman scoring the only goal of the game off of an exceptional pass from midfielder Yuiko Inoue.In preparing for their cross-town rivals, the Magic created a defensive strategy and the defensive players (Kelci Hegg, Diane Hare, Brittany Sasselin and Ayaki Shinada) executed the game plan "to the tee".
Head coach Nino Depasquali said that the Magic team focused and played a superior tactical game against a formidable opponent. The Riders are currently the leading offensive team in the W-League so the Magic defenders had their work cut out for them. Forward Rashidah Sherman doingwhat she does best went to work to score the only goal of the game in the 52nd minute of play with a pass from Inoue that put Sherman in a one-on-one position with the Riders keeper.
During the game the Magic midfielders played smart as they pushed the offense forward and supported the defense in this exciting and impressive team win. It took the work of the whole team to win this game, said coach DePasquali, and I really compliment the players and the strong effort of the team.
Sherman Named to USL W-League Team of the Week (May 22, 2012) and; Hoffer Given Honorable Mention
New York Magic Forward Rashidah Sherman and Goal Keeper Caitlin Hoffer Honored by W-League
The Magic’s next home game will be on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at 4:00 PM, at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York.
Contact the Magic at: www.nymagicsoccer.com or 212.447.0932 for tickets and information about the Magic.
The Team of the Week midfield is led by Samantha Huecker of the Charlotte Eagles, who scored the game-winner vs. FC Jax, and she is joined by Pali’s Servet Uzunlar and Taylor Parker of the Central SC Cobras. Joining Evans in the front line are former W-League Rookie of the Year Rashidah Sherman, Mikaela Howell, who scored both goals in D.C. United Women’s 2-0 win against Virginia Beach, and Fredericksburg’s Missy Wycinsky, who was dominant in her team’s victory against Northern Virginia.
Pos
Player
Team
Highlights
GK
Rebecca Singer
London
Faced 14 shots, made 7 saves for SO in scoreless draw at Hamilton
D
Sandra Matute
Fredericksburg
Dominating D, scored on set piece in 3-1 win vs. Majestics
D
Samantha Harder
Colorado Rush
Led Rush D in pair of road shutouts
D
Alexandra Craig
Hamilton
Led D that limited London to 2 shots 0-0 draw
MF
Servet Uzunlar
Pali
Controlled midfield, 5 shots in 2-0 victory at Santa Clarita
MF
Samantha Huecker
Charlotte
Outstanding play in central mid; scored GWG vs. FC Jax
MF
Taylor Parker
Central SC
Tallied GTG vs. FC jax
F
Mikaela Howell
D.C. United
Scored both in D.C.’s 2-0 win vs. Virginia Beach
F
Danica Evans
Colorado Rush
17-year-old scored both GWGs as the Rush swept BC road trip
F
Missy Wycinsky
Fredericksburg
Dominated up top as FASA earned 3-1 win vs. Majestics
F
Rashidah Sherman
New York
Former Rookie of the Year scored in draw with Wildcats
Honorable Mention – Atlanta – Ashley Baker; Central SC – Ashley Swinehart; Charlotte – Leah Fortune; Colorado Rush – Brittany Bock; FC Jax – Ally Lee; London – Emily Tustin; Long Island – Brooke DeRosa, Grace Hawkins, Kaila Sciascia; NJ Wildcats – Catherine Chukuka, Lauren Smedley, Andrea Lopez; NY Magic – Caitlin Hoffer; Pali – Anna Picarelli, Ann Tangorra; Santa Clarita – Taylor Ramirez, Cynthia Jacobo; Toronto – Cloe Lacasse; Vancouver – Gurveen Clair; Virginia Beach – Jamie Clarke, Jessica Kalonji;
The New York Magic continues its international outreach
On April 28, 2012 the owners and managers of "Magic" met with Ms. Aferdita Fazliuthe, the Minister of Sports and the Head Women’s Soccer Coach for Kosovo, to discuss playing and competition opportunities for female soccer players in Kosovo. They were joined by the meeting coordinator, former New York Magic player/captain, Kanae Haneishi (Tokyo, Japan), who is the head soccer coach at Mount Holyoke College. (4/28/2012).
New York Magic Prepares for the 2012 W-League Season
Thursday Tryouts Scheduled in April
The New York Magic is preparing for the 2012 W-League season and holding tryouts on Thursday evenings at 128th Street & 3rd Avenue in Manhattan.
The 2012 schedule is all set and the Magic staff is busy putting together a competitive roster of players. The Magic promises to keep its moniker---"the United Nations of Soccer" as we look to add to the depth with new and returning international players.
New York Magic's Rashidah Sherman Named 2010 "Rookie of the Year"!
Magic's Sherman Captures Post-Season Honors
Congratulations on a successful 2010 W-League season to New York Magic forward Rashidah Sherman who was named the 2010 "Rookie of the Year" and selected as a member of the Eastern All-Conference and the All-League teams. In recognition of her outstanding performance and contributions to the USL during the 2010 season, Rashidah was acknowledged as one of the top players competing with the New York Magic at the highest level of women's soccer in the US and Canada.
During her first year competing with New York Magic women's soccer team, Rashidah averaged over one (1) goal per game and scored in every game that she competed in during the 2010 season.
New York Work Their Magic
Stun Freedom 2-0
July 4, 2010
The New York Magic dealt a serious blow to the Washington Freedom Futures on the 4th of July weekend, knocking them out of first place. The match ended 2-0, with the Magic’s Rashidah Sherman scoring in the 26th minute and the 71st minute of play.
The New York Magic started the 2011 W-League season with an impressive win over the New Jersey Rangers. Magic’s speedy forward Rashidah Sherman, scored 3 goals to help bring home the win--in the 2011 season opener.
The Magic defense of Kayleigh Morgan, Brittany Sasselein, Kelci Hegg and Laken Duchar-Clark gave great support to the Magic mid-field (Aya Noguchi, Lisa-Marie Curti, Jessica Roelant and Toni Smith) while Sherman delivered the goals. "What a great way to start the season" said Magic’s manager, Lyndelle Phillips.
Magic also got some impressive help off the bench from forward, Jasmin Corneil and defense Lacey Habicth.
See the Magic in action at their home opener on Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 4 PM. New York Magic v the Long Island Rough Riders at 4 PM-Iona College-715 North Avenue- New Rochelle, New York
2010 W-League Honors Announced
TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues announced the W-League honors for the 2010 season, naming the Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Defender of the Year, Coach of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year. The awards were presented at a banquet at the 2010 W-League Championship Presented by Umbro in Santa Clarita, California. Voting was conducted by W-League coaches and general managers.
July 4, 2010
TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues announced the W-League honors for the 2010 season, naming the Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Defender of the Year, Coach of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year. The awards were presented at a banquet at the 2010 W-League Championship Presented by Umbro in Santa Clarita, California. Voting was conducted by W-League coaches and general managers.
