FC SURGE
PRESS RELEASE 6/2/19
FC Surge garnered six crucial points in their inaugural weekend of league play with two 3-0 wins. Traveling to open the season the Surge took on the Florida Tropics in Lakeland on Saturday, June 1st. After a four hour drive the team was met with a sweltering hot locker room and no water on the field for the first 20 minutes of the match. That did not deter as Brianna Austin (Villanova) scored her first Surge goal off assists from Cynthia Peretti (Warner Alum) and Krissy Fisher (UM). While the Tropics headed off to their air conditioned locker room the Surge took the half at a covered picnic table. The 2nd half saw more Surge action as forward Eva Castano Candela (St Thomas Alum) was able to knock in two off assists from Fish.
Sunday’s game was another hot affair versus Florida Krush in Winter Park. Temperatures reaching 94 degrees at the high noon kickoff the Surge and Krush were pretty evenly matched during the scoreless first half. The Surge made a decision to take over the match and started the scoring early in the 2nd half. Defender Captain April Perry (FIU Alum) place a perfect ball to the feet of Fish for the first score in the 49th minute. Perry struck again 8 minutes later sending a lofty shot, with both Candela and Austin jumping for the header but the refs saw contact with a Krush player and it was recorded as an own goal. The Surge did not let up and Fish connected with Candela for the 3rd and final goal.
Goalkeepers Nina Fernandez (Catholic University) and Christina Velasquez (FIU) shared time in net and were credited with both shut-outs. Playing solid defense on Saturday was Amanda Martin (South Carolina) who left the field with a knock to the head and did not participate on Sunday. The defense was anchored by Perry, Elanna Brady (Barry Alum), Martin, Jeanel Noel (Stetson), Kayla Fisher (sister of Krissy) (PBA Alum), and Hunter Koziara (Kentucky commit). Controlling the midfield were Christine Kindt and Shelby Denkert (Both Campbell alum), Peretti, Natasha Perez (Broward College), and Nicole Di Pasquale, with forwards Austin, Candela, Fisher and Chelsea Benavides.
The Surge is led by 4th year Head Coach Ramiro Vengoechea who was pleased with his squad’s efforts. Other rostered players not in attendance for the weekend are Flor Baldassini (Stetson), Dominique Brown (SC State Alum), Christina Chang (FAU Alum), Jessica Clark (USF Alum), Stephany Diaz (Anderson), Chrissy Gratz (East Carolina Alum), Courtney Hueston (FIT Alum), Hunter Matson (Bucknell) and Alejandra Silva (NSU Commit). Shanoska Young (NSU Alum) and JahNya Press (Eastern Florida State Alum) are awaiting their International Clearances from playing recently in Israel.
The first home match is this Wednesday, June 5th versus cross town rival Team Boca Blast. The game serves as annual South Florida bragging rights (which the Surge have never lost). Kick-off is 7:30pm at the Surge’s new home venue, Rok Field at Scheck Hillel Community School 19000, NE 25th Ave in North Miami and will be live streamed on MyCujoo courtesy of WPSL and MagicCity Soccer. Admission is FREE this season (ID required for security gate entrance) and the Surge invites all South Florida Soccer fans to catch one of the four home games and see what the best of Women’s Amateur Soccer in South Florida has to offer!
Other home matches will be Sunday, June 9th 11am vs Florida Sol, Sunday, June 23rd 1pm versus Orlando Kicks, and Sunday, June 30th 2pm vs Puerto Rico Pride. The Surge travel again on Saturday, June 15th to Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lyons in Cape Coral. The Surge is tied for 1st place in the Sunshine Conference of the WPSL after week one. Winner of the conference moves on to Regional playoffs July 12-14 at the winner of the Gulf Conference (along with the Carolinas and SouthEast Conferences) with that eventual winner moving on to the WPSL Championship weekend in Oklahoma July 19-21.
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