Chicago Red Stars Announce Opening Day Roster

Bridgeview, IL (March 25, 2009) – The Chicago Red Stars announced the team’s final roster for the 2009 WPS inaugural season.  In compliance with WPS roster procedures, the Red Stars coaching staff waived three players and assigned four players to spots on the developmental squad in order to bring the roster to 18.

The final roster includes U.S. Women’s National Team midfielders Carli Lloyd and Lindsay Tarpley, both signed to contracts earlier this month, as well as USWNT teammate Megan Rapinoe.

Five international players, including Brazilian striker Cristiane, are also on the Red Stars roster. English forward Karen Carney, Australian midfielder Heather Garriock and Swedish duo Caroline Jönsson and Frida Östberg are all part of the Red Stars Opening Day lineup.

In addition, four players have accepted assignments to the Red Stars’ developmental squad. Mary Therese McDonnell, a native of Orland Park, IL and a defender for Ireland’s Women’s National Team, has joined the roster. Defenders Sarah Wagenfuhr and Michelle Wenino and goalkeeper Jaimel Johnson complete the Red Stars’ developmental roster.

The Red Stars waived defender Kat Tarr and forwards Tina Estrada and Lauren Sesselmann.

The Red Stars kick off the 2009 WPS season on April 4th on the road against St. Louis Athletica at Ralph Korte Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. Following a second road game against the Washington Freedom on April 11th, the Red Stars will play their historic home-opener at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois on Sunday April 19th against Sky Blue FC.  Season tickets, starting at only $120 for 10 regular season games plus two bonus games, are on sale now.  Call (866) WPS-2009 or log on to www.chicagoredstars.com to reserve your seats.

2009 Chicago Red Stars Roster

#

Players

Pos.

Ht.

DOB

Hometown

College

Caps/Goals

1

Jönsson, Caroline

GK

5-10

11/22/1977

Lund, Sweden

-

80/0

2

Dalmy, Marian

D

5-9

11/25/1984

Lakewood, Colo.

Santa Clara

5/0

3

Masar, Ella

F

5-5

04/03/1986

Urbana, Ill.

Illinois

-

4

Dieke, Ifeoma

D

5-5

02/25/1981

Glasgow, Scotland

FIU

48/0

5

Tarpley, Lindsay

M

5-6

09/22/1983

Kalamazoo, Mich.

UNC

116/29

6

Klein, Brittany

M

5-3

10/29/1986

Arcadia, Calif.

Santa Clara

-

7

Garriock, Heather

M

5-5

12/21/1982

Sydney, Australia

-

111/19

8

Rapinoe, Megan

M

5-7

07/05/1985

Redding, Calif.

Portland

7/3

10

Lloyd, Carli

M

5-8

07/16/1982

Delran, N.J.

Rutgers

82/19

11

Cristiane

F

5-6

05/15/1985

Osasco, São Paulo, Brazil

-

38/25

12

Adams, Danesha

F

5-6

06/06/1986

Shaker Heights, Ohio

UCLA

1/0

12

Igwe, Chioma

M

5-6

07/21/1986

Belmont, Calif.

Santa Clara

-

13

Spilger, Natalie

D

5-6

05/19/1982

El Cajon, Calif.

Stanford

-

14

Carney, Karen

F

5-3

08/01/1987

Birmingham, England

Loughborough

43/7

15

Young, Bonnie

D

5-8

07/21/1980

Spring, Tex.

Penn State

-

16

Wagenfuhr, Sarah

D

5-3

12/31/1986

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Florida State

-

17

Wenino, Michelle

D

5-8

05/03/1987

Aurora, Colo.

Colorado

-

18

Östberg, Frida

M

5-4

12/10/1977

Örnsköldsvik, Sweden

Umea

78/2

19

McDonnell, Mary Therese

D

 5-6

 08/26/1986

 Orland Park, IL

Illinois

6/0

20

Johnson, Jaimel

GK

5-7

 11/27/1986

Dayton, OH

Tennessee

-

23

Krzysik, Nikki

D

5-7

05/23/1987

Clifton, N.J.

Virginia

-

25

Williams, Lydia

GK

5-9

05/13/1988

Katanning, Australia

-

Powered by Cypress Consulting