Virginia State Cup Champion Chantilly Hotspur joining FC Virginia

The Football Club of Virginia has announced that the reigning girls Virginia State Cup Champion Chantilly Hotspur have agreed to join the FC Virginia family, effective for the Spring 2009 season.

The team will remain a member of the Chantilly Soccer Club, but will now change their name to “Chantilly FCV Hotspur”, and will represent FC Virginia in the prestigious Red Bull National Girls League. Veteran youth coach Carolyn Rice will remain as Head Coach.

“The Hotspur are a top team with great players and a proven coach that we are thrilled to have as part of the FC Virginia family”, said Terry Foley, President of FC Virginia. “Our goal is to help every player in our club get the best possible training and preparation for college soccer, and I believe there is no better way to be seen by college scouts than through the Red Bull League events.”

Rice added, “The opportunity to play in the Red Bull League is a major deal for our girls, who have worked so very hard to develop their game. Joining FCV will allow us to develop even stronger players through a more competitive training environment and by gaining access to all great coaching minds already working [at FC Virginia]. This will open more opportunities for our girls in the future than they might have otherwise had.”

Foley, a 19-year veteran of elite youth soccer has won 24 State Cup Championships, and helped over 100 players go on to play in college. Every player from the last three teams coached by Foley that have aged through to college was offered the chance to play college soccer, including FCV graduates Megan Lenczyk and Laurel Pastor, each of whom recently led their college teams in goals scored during their sophomore years at the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University respectively.

The Hotspur, currently playing in division I of the Washington Area Girls Soccer League (WAGS), are the second under-14 girls team at FC Virginia. The FCV Courage is a division II WAGS team.

“Having two quality teams and coaches in an age group supports my strongest beliefs in the best way to develop players”, added Foley.

The Hotspur make the 12th team under the FC Virginia banner, nine of which also play under Chantilly Soccer Club. While other CSC teams operate independently, all FC Virginia teams ultimately report to a single Director, sharing administrative resources, and following similar player development philosophies.