June 13, 2012
SEVEN SIGNINGS
LI Fury add more local products

The Long Island Fury has announced its second group of player signings for the 2012 Women's Premier Soccer League season. Joining the team are goalkeeper Alicia Ramos; defenders Natali Cikos, Rosemarie Hayes and Jane Wallis; forward-midfielder Taylor Katz; defender-forward Carly Beyar; and forward Kari Quinn. All are products of the Albertson Fury youth program.

Ramos (East Setauket, NY/Ward Melville HS) was an All-State Second Team and All-Long Island First Team selection, as well as All-County, Conference and League, and Goalkeeper of the Year during her career at Ward Melville High School, and is part of the 2012 recruit class at the University of Vermont. “Alicia has great presence in goal,” said Long Island Fury coach Phil Casella. “She has a good mind for the position, distributes well and will be a major voice helping organize the back line.”

Cikos (Massapequa Park, NY/Sacred Heart Academy) was All-State Fourth Team and All-Long Island First Team at Sacred Heart Academy. She has experience with the Croatian National Team in qualifying for the Women’s Euro 2013 championships, and will play for Northwestern University in the fall. “Natalie is an all-around solid player,” Casella said, “very technical, great tactically, has the ability to play both in the back and/or midfield. She will be a mainstay for this group for the summer.”

Hayes (Northport, NY/Northport HS) was a four-year starter at Northport High School and an NSCAA All-Region selection as a senior, as well as Player of the Year in her junior and senior seasons. “Rosy is a very smart, technical and competent player,” said Casella. “She brings a lot of experience and will see time as a center back or defensive center midfielder. She is a good leader and has a good presence.”

Wallis (Briarcliff, NY/Briarcliff Manor HS) saw action in 19 games (18 starts) for George Washington University last season, her sophomore year. She was part of four Mt. Pleasant Cup Championship and three State Class B Championship teams at Briarcliff Manor HS, earning four all-league selections and one all-state nod, in her senior season. “Jane is a very good outside left attacking back,” Casella said. “She has a great left foot and loves to go forward. She is smart, technical, very good with short-, mid- or long passing range and will be a mainstay on the left side.”

Katz (Jericho, NY/Jericho HS) appeared in 17 games and started 12 as a freshman at George Washington last season, scoring two goals. She was a two-time team MVP and three-time All-County Class A honoree at Jericho HS, and captained the team her senior season. Casella called Taylor “a very good technical player. She does a solid job with her back to goal as a target player. We are looking for her to score some goals for us this summer.”

Beyar (Rockville Center, NY/South Side HS) was named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team in 2010, her freshman season at Fairfield University, and was an all-conference Second Team selection as a sophomore, after leading the Stags in scoring with four goals. At South Side High School, she led the Cyclones to four state championships and two NSCAA #1 national rankings (2008 and ’09). “Carly is a very strong, physical player,” said Casella. “She has the ability to play in the back or up top. She can change a game in seconds, and her range of passing is very high. She will see action up top for the most part.”

Quinn (Shoreham, NY/Shoreham-Wading River HS) will play at Syracuse University this fall after earning four All-State nods and being named to the All-Region 1 team for three years at Shoreham-Wading River High School. “Kari is a very physical player,” according to Casella, who “loves the 1-on-1 battles. She is very solid at taking players on and will be a focal point in our attack this summer.”

The Long Island Fury open the 2012 season on Saturday when they face Aztec MA on the road, they return home Sunday for a game against CFC Passion at Brooklyn’s Aviator Field with kickoff schedule for 4:45 pm.