Whitecaps re-sign six from W-League champs

[Richard]

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Friday, May 6, 2005

WHITECAPS INK SIX MEMBERS FROM LAST YEAR’S W-LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SQUAD

…Caps re-sign Amber Allen, Martina Franko, Kara Lang, Amy Apps, Andrea Neil and Randee Hermus

VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC Director of Soccer Operations, Bob Lenarduzzi, today announced the re-signing of forwards Amber Allen and Martina Franko, midfielder/forward Kara Lang, midfielders Amy Apps and Andrea Neil and defender Randee Hermus.

Amber Allen, 29, enters her fifth year as a striker with the club. Last season Allen finished second in team scoring with 11 goals and five assists in 15 games for the Caps. Allen ranks third on Vancouver’s all-time scoring list with 23 goals, seven assists and 53 points in 38 games played. Allen, a member of the Canadian National Team, has played 15 international games and netted four goals, including the lone marker in Canada’s 3-1 loss to Germany on April 21, 2005. Allen is a two-time Canadian university scoring champion, leading the nation in 2000 and again in 2001 while playing for McGill. The native of Pitt Meadows, BC holds a degree in Chemistry from UBC and an MBA from McGill.

Martin Franko, 29, returns for her third season with the Whitecaps. Last year, Franko led the Caps in goals scored with 19, game-winners with eight and points with 44, all of which were single season records. Franko, a Los Altos, California native, is Vancouver’s all-time points leader with 59 (24G and 11A). Prior to Vancouver, Franko was the runaway leader of the California-based WPSL in 2002, scoring 15 goals and adding five assists over 14 games with the California Storm of Sacramento. Franko is the second all-time leading scorer at Colorado College with 107 career goals from 1994 to 1998.

Kara Lang played her first season as a Whitecap in 2003 and at 18 years old has established herself as a National Team superstar. The native of Oakville, Ontario has already played 44 games and scored 21 goals for Canada. As a member of the U-19 squad, Lang played 16 games, scored eight goals and was a member of the silver medal winning team at the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship. Last season Lang played five games with the Whitecaps, scoring three goals and assisting on two. In September, Lang will attend UCLA, having accepted a soccer scholarship last January.

Amy Apps, 26, has played three years with the Whitecaps. Known for her strong challenges, booming shot and hard work ethic, Apps is consistently among the leaders in games and minutes played. Last year, the Unionville, Ontario native played in 16 matches accumulating 1,357 minutes, four goals and one assist. For her efforts she was named to the W-League 2004 All-Conference team. Apps played two seasons with the W-League’s Toronto Inferno from 2000 to 2001. In 1999, Apps was a CIAU All-Canadian with McMaster University.

Andrea Neil, 33, enters her fifth year with the club and is both team captain and assistant coach. The Vancouver native finished last year with four goals and seven assists. Neil ranks third in all-time games played with 48 and first in minutes played with 4,284. Neil is also a veteran National Team member, having recently received her 104th Cap and scored her 21st goal. When not playing soccer, Neil can be found on the sidelines as the head coach of the Whitecaps Girls Youth Program.

Randee Hermus, 25, returns for her fourth year with the Caps. The Langley, BC native played in 16 games for the Caps last year scoring two goals and assisting on two. In addition, Hermus was named the W-League Playoff MVP last year. Hermus has accumulated 57 caps and five goals with the national team. In 2003, Hermus played in Norway for IF Floya.

The defending W-League champion Whitecaps Women kick off their 2005 season at Swangard Stadium on Saturday, May 14 versus the Arizona Heatwave. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the pre-game championship ring ceremony. Women’s season ticket prices start at just $59! For more information call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or visit whitecapsfc.com.