The Pali Blues women’s soccer team will open its sixth season on Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Los Angeles Strikers at Palisades High Stadium. Admission is $9 for adults and $5 for kids.
Each team in the United Soccer League, which is made up of 25 teams in four conferences, consists of mostly college students from the United States and Canada who receive zero-dollar amateur contracts. This premier developmental league allows women to play alongside established international players.
Many of the Blues played their college ball in Southern California, with 15 of the 24 players on the roster attending either UCLA, USC, Pepperdine, or Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Goalkeeper Anna Picarelli returns after a stellar season in which she allowed just three goals and posted 11 shutouts in 15 games, while the Blues also will have back their leading scorer in forward Lynn Williams (11 goals in 12 games).
Following their opener against Los Angeles, the Blues will not play again until May 31 when they visit the Bay Area Breeze. They then play at the Santa Clarita Blue Heat on June 2 before returning home on June 6 to face the Colorado Rapids, although the game will be played at Occidental College.
The league began in 1995, and the Pali Blues won the championship in 2008 and 2009. Last year, the Blues won their conference but lost the championship game in a penalty kick shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Local AYSO and club soccer teams are sought to scrimmage during halftime of Pali Blues home games. Slots are available on June 6 (7 p.m.), June 9 against the Seattle Sounders (3 p.m.), July 5 against the Colorado Rush (7 p.m.) and July 7 vs. the Breeze and 14 vs. the Blue Heat (5 p.m.).
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