Two Solano college All-Americans, plus current sophomore, return to campus for June 12th match

Katie Knopp and Andrea Salvador both left indelible marks on the Solano College women’s soccer program, leading Solano to conference championships in their final seasons and earning NSCAA Junior College All-American honors before moving on to San Jose State and Fresno State, respectively. Now Knopp and Salvador — together with current Solano sophomore, Natalie Loyola, and a half dozen players who grew up in nearby Napa, Solano or Sonoma counties, are returning to Solano College as part of the North Bay FC Wave, a brand new Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) team from Marin.

The North Bay Wave will play three-time State Cup Champion De Anza Force 91G Blue from Cupertino, CA. on Saturday, June 12 at 2:00 p.m. on the Solano College soccer field, 4000 Suisun Valley Road in Fairfield. The “friendly” is the sendoff for the De Anza Force, which will represent Northern California at the US Youth Soccer Far West Regional championships in New Mexico June 21-27, 2010.

Knopp, now a senior forward at San Jose State, was named a 2008 NSCAA Junior College All-American after leading Solano to an undefeated Bay Valley Conference championship in 2008. She helped kick off WPSL league play for the North Bay Wave last weekend by tallying two goals in the Wave’s 4-0 win over the FC Sacramento Pride. Salvador also was instrumental in helping the Solano Falcons to a conference championship in 2005, and was named the National NSCAA Junior College Player of the Year for her efforts.

“It will be exciting to see these two young ladies back on the field where they wrote themselves into the Solano College record books,” said Solano women’s soccer coach, Jeff Cardinal. “They were not only dynamic players in their two seasons here, but they also are simply outstanding young women who serve as great role models for the area’s youth players.”

Loyola, who will be a sophomore midfielder for Solano College this fall, is from nearby Vintage High School in Napa. Other North Bay Wave players from the Napa/Sonoma area include Zoe Carroll, Christina Chang-Dzegede, Macy Jo Harrison, Tiffany Hurst, Ashley Lowery, and Sarah Peters, who is the starting goalkeeper for UC Davis, right up the road.

The North Bay FC Wave is Marin County’s first WPSL team, featuring a roster consisting of current and former collegiate players, current and former national team players, and elite high school players. Among the colleges represented are 2009 NCAA College Cup finalists North Carolina and Stanford, as well as NCAA quarterfinalist Boston College, UC Davis, USF, San Diego State, and many more. The Wave will play a challenging schedule this summer against the other six members of the WPSL’s Pacific-North division. The next home match is Sunday, June 6th at 4:00 p.m. vs. the California Storm of Sacramento at San Marin High School in Novato. The Storm are defending Pacific-North champions and feature former international superstars such as Brandi Chastain and Sissi among their talent-laden roster.

“The WPSL a national league of more than 50 teams that is the highest level of women’s amateur soccer in the U.S.,” said North Bay Wave head coach Luis Quezada. “We are looking forward to testing ourselves against one of the best WPSL teams in the country. It should be a very exciting and entertaining match.”

Besides the North Bay Wave, California Storm, and FC Sacramento Pride, other teams in the WPSL Pacific-North division include the San Francisco Nighthawks, Clovis Sidekicks, Portland Rain, and Spokane Black Widows.

De Anza Force 91G Blue has won the Cal North State Cup championship in 2008, 2009, and 2010. The team was a Far West Regionals quarterfinalist and Surf Cup finalist in 2008. Nearly 30 De Anza Force 91 girls have played, or will soon play, collegiate soccer. Eighteen members of the current team that will meet the Wave are committed to play at NCAA Division I or Division II schools over the next two years.

About North Bay FC Wave: The primary goal of the North Bay FC Wave is to develop a competitive women’s soccer team to enable players to achieve their dream of playing at the highest level. The Wave maintains close ties with the Marin County community and with local youth soccer organizations, including the North Bay Magic and West Marin YSL. For more information, visit www.northbayfc.com. Marin Auto Glass is the Official Black Diamond Sponsor of the Wave for the Summer 2010 season. Visit their website at www.marinautoglass.com for a complete list of services, from vehicle glass repair or replacement to tinting. Additional sponsorships for the Wave from local businesses or individuals are always welcome.

About the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL): The WPSL is a 50-plus team national league with five conferences starting in 2010 and is the largest women’s soccer league in the world. The league is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) as an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The WPSL’s mission is to provide the highest level of soccer in its effort to: bring affordable and quality family entertainment to the community; display positive role models for our youth; while, being a stepping stone for aspiring players to Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS).

For more information, visit the WPSL’s official website at www.wpsl.info, phone 1-800-854-0913 or contact the WPSL via email at media@wpslsoccer.com. You can also keep up with the league on WPSL social media networking sites on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter!!

Eurosport & SOCCER.COM is a Proud Partner of the WPSL, who feature a wide selection of top-of-the-line soccer merchandise, serving as an important communication vehicle for organizations including the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF), Major League Soccer (MLS), U.S. Youth Soccer, and many more!

Molten is the Official Championship Ball of the 2010 WPSL Final Four and is also a Proud Partner of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), and is the Official Soccer Ball of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). Visit their official website at www.moltenusa.com for more information on their full line of products.

WHAT: Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Match

WHEN: June 12, 2010 at 2:00 pm

WHERE: SCC Soccer Field, Main Campus (Fairfield)