YouthCollegeAdultPro

Thunder Soccer Club and Maryland Pride join forces

22 Mar, 2008

Tony Corbett - the Technical Director of Thunder Soccer Club of Howard County (Maryland) - announced last week that the Maryland Pride has been officially adopted by the club and will be renamed the TSC Maryland Pride for the Summer 2008 season. The Pride will continue to compete in the Mid-Atlantic Division of the East Conference of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and have also announced their coaching staff for this summer - Mike Raffael & Bill Heiser.

"It has been our long time goal to get involved with a professional club" Said Corbett. "We want to provide the ultimate club soccer experience, which is to have a place for everyone from U5 through adulthood." He went on to explain "These adult teams are also a place for talented alumni to play, and, a place for talented current U15's thru U19's to practice and challenge themselves during the summer." The club is also looking forward to Pride players assisting in camps and clinics, and the obvious role modeling opportunities that can provide young players.

Formerly known as the Lady Bays, the TSC Maryland Pride began play in 1994 when the United Soccer Leagues (USL) organized a pilot season to test the demand for a National Women's Soccer League. That first year, the Lady Bays advanced to the first unofficial National Tournament, where they were eliminated by Sacramento (CA) - the eventual 1994 Champion.

In 1996, playing as the Maryland Pride, the team compiled an 8-1 regular-season record and then rolled to the National Title by defeating three opponents by a combined score of 9-0 at the National Championship Tournament. In 2001, the Pride finished undefeated and were regular season champions.

Coach Mike Raffael - Thunder SC's Coaching Director for Girls/Women - holds multiple national coaching credentials, including a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) B Coaching License, a USSF National Youth Coaching License and National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and Advanced National Goalkeeping Certifications. Mike has international experience as a player and extensive background in coaching, as he has been involved in the Maryland ODP Program and Maryland Coaching Education Courses.

Coach Bill Heiser was an NSCAA Youth All-American in 1988 and a Parade High School All-American in 1991. Moreover, Bill was a member of the U.S. U-17 National Team from 1988-90 and represented the U.S. in the 1989 U-17 World Championships in Scotland.

That team made history when it became the first U.S. team to defeat Brazil 1-0 in a FIFA World Cup. Bill's coaching experience includes a year at Georgetown University under former Hoya's Head Coach Keith Tabatznik and current University of Pennsylvania Coach Rudy Fuller. Bill has also been an Assistant Coach with ODP and is a Technical Trainer with Thunder SC.

The 2008 TSC Maryland Pride is anticipating participation by players from the University of Maryland, American University, Clemson University, George Mason University, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, Monmouth University & Mount St. Mary's.

« Back to full list of Youth

• Jul 01, 2008
• Jun 27, 2008
• Jun 24, 2008
• Jun 20, 2008
• Jun 17, 2008
• » more