FC SURGE
JUNE 2, 2018
PRESS RELEASE
The 2018 WPSL season began with a big win for FC Surge. Miami’s highest level of women’s soccer took to the field for their 6th season at their new venue, Ives Estates Park. The Surge hosted Florida Krush from Winter Park. The Surge had only beaten Krush once in the last four seasons.
Several new faces started the game for the Surge along with veterans April Perry, Christina Chang and Chrissy Gratz. UM’s GK Phallon Tullis-Joyce returned to the Surge after a season away and brought with her UM teammates Krissy Fisher, Lexi Castellano, and Dejah Cason. Other returnees were Rochelle Wimbush, Elanna Brady, Shanoska Young, and Alexis Hernandez joined by newcomers Nicole Richards, Shelby Kean, Paula Quintero, Haley Mallion, Christine Kindt, Yari Bradfield, and Eva Castano Candela.
The teams were evenly matched with the Surge having a slight edge with the ball. Sub Alexis Hernandez made a perfect cross right to the head of Lexi Castellano to put the Surge on the board first in the 38th minute. That 1-0 would stand for the next 3rd of the game when a defensive miscue caused a foul in the box, Krush converted their PK and tied the game 1-1 at the 75 minute mark. The Surge would not give up and continued to pressure the Krush. It paid off in the 84th minute when, after a series of controlled passes, Super Sub Hernandez again served a ball up this time to the feet of Chrissy Gratz to take the lead 2-1. That was enough to seal the win for the Surge.
Hernandez, one of the Surge’s founding members, returned this season after a three year hiatus which began in the last game of 2014 against Team Boca Blast where she tore her ACL. She had baby Isaiah in 2015 and attempted to return for the 2016 season but tweaked her knee during a preseason scrimmage. Alexis was a star player for Nationally Ranked American Heritage High School, broke records at Nova Southeastern University and played one season in Iceland for Throttur Reykjavik. She began play in the WPSL in 2008 with Miami Kickers (who made the final four in 2009), moved on to South Florida Strikers then helped found the Surge in 2013 after both previous teams folded.
Coaches Ramiro Vengoechea and Eddie Hernanadez, assisted today by Ico de Olivero, were quite pleased with the effort and the result. Today’s roster of 18 did not include other newcomers Cynthia Peretti, Rikki Farquharson, Emily Lamas, Jaida Scott, Kortney Hinden, Olivia Reese and returnees Flor Baldassini and Johanna Rathbun.
Next game will be in Fleming Island (Jacksonville) at Florida Sol on June 9th, followed by two more away games June 20th at Team Boca Blast, and June 23rd against Puerto Rico Pride in Winter Park. The Surge returns home for its final three games, June 30th versus Florida Tropics from St Petersburg/Lakeland, July 1st versus Tampa Bay United, and July 7th versus Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions from Ft Myers. Winning the Sunshine Conference could send Surge to the South Regional playoffs again this season July 14-15 in Tennessee with all eyes on the WPSL Championships July 20-22 in Oklahoma.
The Surge are still looking for a few more donors, sponsors, or strategic partners to fund the season. For more info check out their website at www.fcsurgesoccer.com or on social media at facebook.com/fcsurgesoccer, twitter.com/fcsurge, and Instagram.com/fcsurge.