Adirondack Lynx

Velan, Litchfield, and Gardiner tapped to tryout for the Women's Professional Soccer League

Regardless of outcome, All 3 see it as a dream come true!

image: Jim Carroll

Katie Gardiner had to pass on the decision to fly to California for the WPSL Combine as she is a teacher in NY and could not afford the time to tryout in late August. She hopes she will get another opportunity!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Glens Falls , NY - The Adirondack Lynx are pleased to announce that three players from the 2008 Adirondack Lynx were invited to the WPSL Combine in Sacramento, CA. Teammates, Mary Velan, Kylee Litchfield, and Katie Gardiner were invited for a tryout in front of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) coaches and managers as the new league looks to start operations in 2009.

Owner and Lynx General Manager, PJ Motsiff was contacted by the league at the conclusion of the season that the three were selected to participate. Motsiff states, "This is exactly why the Adirondack Lynx started operations - to give females the opportunity to pursue their dreams. It is great that Adirondack has been able to get 3 years under its belt prior to the pro league beginning. This has allowed the program to really establish itself and become a draw for top athletes nationally and internationally. We have had the likes of World Cup and Olympic players (Heather Garriock and Danielle Small), youth national team members (Hannah Cerrone, Brooke Knowlton, CJ Ludemann, Ashley Moore, Lauren Robertson and Shona Franklin), as well as NCAA National Champions (Moore and Erika Bohn) put on a Lynx uniforms.Now these 3 exceptional players get a call from the league to strut their stuff in front of the likes of Emma Hayes (Chicago), Tony DiCicco (Boston), Jim Gabarra (Washington), and Matt Driver (Philadelphia). It should only open more doors for women playing in the WPSL."

Kylee Litchfield, 3x captain with the Adirondack Lynx and a 1st Team NCAA All-American out of the College of Saint Rose is currently a graduate student in Texas. She took the league up on the offer!

Katie Gardiner, a 2x captain for the Adirondack Lynx and one of the chosen players had to decline the chance of a lifetime due to her job commitment as a music teacher in New York state. "I agonized over my decision for weeks, and finally I decided it's an awful time for me right before school starts. Honestly though, i don't even know what I'd do if I ACTUALLY got drafted...it would be a big decision.  but at the end of the day, I love to play more than anything, so I feel really sad.  This whole thing is tearing me up inside. If their is another opportunity at any other time you can bet I will be headed to it!"

Kylee Litchfield felt there was no way she was going to miss out. Last year she had an opportunity to play for SoccerPlus CT and Tony DiCicco against Jim Gabarra of the Washington Freedom at the Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta as part of the Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy induction ceremony.. During that match she rubbed elbows with some of the best the game has ever known. After having a stellar career at The College of Saint Rose this was what she felt she needed to do.

image: Jim Carroll

Mary Velan, a 3x member of the Adirondack Lynx and a 4x NCAA All-American out of SUNY Oneonta could not turn down the opportunity to head west. She currently is an assistant at Stevens Tech in New Jersey.

Mary Velan out of The State University of New York at Oneonta was also asked to participate. Velan earned four All-America awards in soccer (2004-07). She graduated as Oneonta’s all-time leader in points (169), goals (71), and assists (27) and led the Red Dragons to four State University of New York Athletic Conference titles and NCAA tournament appearances. Oneonta reached the NCAA Championship’s ‘Elite Eight’ in both 2004 and 2005. Velan was a four-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America first-team All-New York Region selection, a two-time SUNYAC Player of the Year (2006 & 2007), a four-time all-conference first-team member, as well as an All-Academic team selection and the league’s rookie of the year in 2004.

Velan is currently the asst. women's coach for Stevens Technology in New Jersey.

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