(August 9, 2011) - Spanish international forward Veronica Boquete is a game changer. She has a habit of joining teams late in the season and having an instant impact, not missing a beat.

Around this time in August of last season, Vero, as her teammates and fans know her, had just made her debut with the Chicago Red Stars. She made the most of her brief play, appearing in three matches and tallying a goal and two assists. Her late arrival in Chicago was the result of her leading the W-League Buffalo Flash to the 2010 USL W-League Championship.

Now Vero is having that same instant impact with the Independence. Signing with Philadelphia in January, Vero was unable to join the squad until after the conclusion of her Spanish club’s (RCD Espanyol) season. She arrived in camp at United Sports in Downingtown on June 2 and made her game debut just two days later on June 4 when the Independence hosted the Atlanta Beat. That match ended in a 0-0 draw. It would be the last time so far this season Philadelphia did not win a game with Vero in the starting line-up.

"The WPS is the best league in the world where they play the best players, and it is a pleasure that I can play here," Vero said. "I enjoy every game, every practice and everything related to soccer. In Spain, the women's league isn't professional and I value very much everything that I have here and what soccer contributes to me. The Philadelphia Independence is the best team, with a good coach, good players and all the people who work with us. I'm very happy here."

“Vero has been our inspirational hero this year,” said Independence head coach Paul Riley.  “She is a naturally gifted footballer with skill, speed and a nose for the goal.”

With Vero in the starting line-up, the Independence is 9-0-1. Philadelphia registered a six-game win streak following her debut, as she helped the squad take over first place in the WPS standings on July 6 – a ranking the Independence has either held or shared since. Nursing an injury, Vero sat out of the July 23 game at Sky Blue - Philadelphia’s only loss in the past eleven games.

“When she is in the line-up, the rules say that we win the game,” laughed Riley.

Vero’s performance and instant spark is garnering league MVP talks. She is nominated for the WPS Player of the Year, along with fellow Independence teammate, Tasha Kai. In ten games this season, she has four assists and five goals – three of those goals being game winners in 1-0 Independence victories over the Atlanta Beat (twice) and the Boston Breakers on the road. Vero's on-the-field success also earned her three Player of the Week honors this season - the first player in 2011 to be honored three times.

"My performance is good and I am very happy for all that - it's one more motivation for me," said Vero. "But the only important thing is the team, that we win games and we could win the championship. The team depends on the work of all players, not just the ones who score goals."

Her unselfish play is earning praise from the Philadelphia coaching staff and teammates.

“Being top class on the field is one thing, but she is a professional in every sense of the word,” Riley added. “From her work ethic to her training habits, to her game preparation, she does everything to the utmost detail. We are very lucky to have her in Philly and the fans adore her. Hopefully she will be an integral part of our goal to win the WPS Championship.”

“Vero is a great player and a great person,” said Independence defender and captain, Nikki Krzysik. “She fits in so well with our team on and off the field. There are times when we are playing and Kia [McNeill] and I will look at each other and say, ‘Wow, we’re so lucky to have Vero’. She figures out how to get around players better than most people. We’re just so lucky to have her.”

The Galician-born 24-year-old is not just developing a superstar reputation in the WPS, but in her native country, as well. According to FIFA’s official website, Vero won the UEFA European Women’s U-19 Championship in 2004 before going on to appear in the 2004 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Thailand with her Spanish National Team. Spain has yet to qualify for a Women’s World Cup, but the future is looking bright.

"In September, we begin the qualifications for the next Euro Cup," she said. "We want to play this championship and I think that this is the moment in which Spain shows its true level."

The Independence clinched a playoff birth for the second consecutive season and earned the right to host either the WPS Semifinal (August 20 at 4:00 p.m.) or WPS Championship. (August 27 at 4:00 p.m.).  Let’s hope Riley’s ‘rules’ about Vero remain a fact as Philadelphia continues its quest for the championship.

“As long as we keep her in the line-up, we’ll be ok,” he said.