EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - New Jersey Copa F.C. kicks off their 2016 season in the East Conference of United Women’s Soccer (UWS) on Saturday, May 14th at 5:00 PM as they travel to St. Anthony’s High School to face the Long Island Rough Riders in the Inaugural Game of this new pro-am national women’s soccer league. The team is excited to announce their full roster that will represent their newly-formed team on this important occasion.

“FC Copa Academy has grown in the last decade to what is one of the largest and strongest youth clubs in New Jersey, developing a wealth of college talent and competing annually for national championships,” said President, Founder and Executive Director of Coaching Roberto Aguas. “It’s a natural progression for the club to provide its most talented players with an opportunity to play at the highest level in the U.S. right below NWSL, and we look forward to seeing the competitive team we assembled for the inaugural UWS season in 2016.”

After another road match against the TSF Academy Valkyries, NJCFC will host the Rough Riders in the rubber match of their season series on Saturday, May 22nd. The NJCFC home opener will be at Mercer Community College with a 4:30 PM kickoff.

“We are thrilled to be adding a UWS team to our program,” said New Jersey Copa F.C. Vice President Lori Berman. “To be able to provide our alumni collegiate players with such a high level of play during the summer has become a critical need and it affords our top youth players with a complete developmental progression. We are excited to step on the field tomorrow and showcase our talent.”

POSITION - NAME - HOMETOWN - COLLEGE (LAST TEAM)
GK - Christiana Ogunsami - Cherry Hill, NJ - Vanderbilt University (Continental FC Delco)
GK - Kristyn Shea - Piscataway, NJ - Providence College (N.E. Mutiny)
D - Nicole Bates - Basking Ridge, NJ - Fordham University
D - Rebecca Raber - Bayport, NY - Dowling College (L.I. Rough Riders)
D - Camille Bowen - Goshen, NY - Marist College (NY Xtreme FC)
D - Erin Sullivan - Bridgewater, NJ - Montclair State University
D - Jenny Bitzer - Messstetten, Germany - Manhattan College (1899 Hoffenheim)
D - Monique Goncalves - Warren, NJ - Monmouth University (Jersey United)
D - Eryka Underwood - Clark, NJ - Methodist University
D - Megan Hunsberger - Bethlehem, PA - University of Connecticut
M - Callie Duliba - Kintnersville, PA - Villanova University
M - Jackie Bruno - Staten Island, NY - University of Massachusetts
M - Alexandra Tinfow - Westfield, NJ - McGill College
F - Jeanine Nunez - Staten Island, NY - Adelphi University
F - Madeline Barretti - Flemington, NJ - West Chester University
F - Sarah Barone-Stern - Staten Island, NY - Adelphi University
F - Krystyna Freda - Somerset, NJ - Winthrop University (Merrilappi United)
F - Phoenetia Browne - Piscataway, NJ - Columbia University / University of Texas

Ogunsami played in 21 games and made 20 starts in goal this past Fall for Vanderbilt University. She logged a career-high 1,889 minutes, missing just two halves all season and was among league leaders in several statistical categories such as second in SEC in saves (95), saves per game (4.52) and save percentage (.812).

Shea played for the historic F.C. Copa Academy Real as she led the team to the club's only National title, among many other accolades. As the starting goalkeeper at Providence College, she has been a BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week and Goalkeeper of the Week. She was also named to the the 2015 NEWISA All-New England Team. For the past two years, Kristyn has played for new UWS side New England Mutiny during the 2014 and 2015 seasons in the WPSL.

A three-year starting center back for Fordham University, Bates earned Atlantic-10 All-Tournament Team, All-Academic Team and Second Team All-Conference honors during the 2015 season. Nicole played for the Jersey Blues last year in the WPSL. Rebecca Raber joins NJCFC after playing her senior year at Dowling College, where she earned All-Conference at Dowling College after being an All-Conference player at Binghamton University.

Bowen played in 19 games, starting 18 at Marist College where she played center back and defensive center midfield. Camille anchored a Marist defense that won six conference games to earn them the No. 3 seed in the MAAC Conference playoffs.

Sullivan is another F.C. Copa Academy alum who joins the NJCFC roster after being part of the F.C. Copa Real National Championship roster as a youth player. Erin has appeared in 66 games at Montclair State University where they have been ranked Top 25 every year since her arrival.

Bitzer joins NJCFC after completing her junior year at Manhattan College where she was MAAC Defensive Player of the Year. Prior to Manhattan, Jenny played at Louisiana Tech University and for 1899 Hoffenheim Reserves in Germany. Goncalves appeared in 16 matches for the Hawks, earning 13 starts on the back line at Monmouth University. The Hawks went 13-3-2 on the year and earned the No. 1 seed in the MAAC Conference playoffs.

Underwood, an F.C. Copa Academy alum, returns back to where her dream started as she was a member of the National Champions F.C. Copa Academy Real. Eryka is currently a junior at Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC and has played all 56 games and started 55 of them. A three year All-USA South Conference Team member, she was also named to the 2015 All-Tournament team. The team captain has led the Monarchs to 22 shutouts and a 1.04 GAA during her college career.

Hunsberger played in nine games and earned seven starts before suffering a season-ending injury in 2015 at UCONN. Megan played for the Sky Blue Reserves last summer after making 23 starts at the outside back position in her collegiate season. She finished second on the team with 2,108 minutes logged and was All-Tournament Team at the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament.

Duliba was a member of the F.C. Copa Academy Elite Collegiate Program last summer while also being a member of the Sky Blue Reserves. A junior at Villanova University, Callie has played 41 games for the Wildcats tallying over 2,800 minutes in her career. As a versatile defender and midfielder, Callie has helped the Big East side to maintain 13 clean sheets.

Bruno played in 11 games, starting in eight and posting 662 minutes of action for UMASS in 2015. Jackie also played Super Y with the Brooklyn Knights in the Super-20 League where the team advanced to the National Championship.

Tinfow was a key member of the legendary F.C. Copa Academy Real team who won a national championship in their U-17 year. Moving on to play at McGill University in Montreal, the junior has been a two-year captain and in 2015 was named to the All-Conference Team in both the Fall and Winter seasons.

Nunez is coming off her second season with Adelphi University. The dynamic forward appeared in 44 games with 38 starts. Nunez has tallied 10 goals and 10 assists in her two years for the Panthers. She has also earned NE-10 Second Team All-Conference and NE-10 All-Rookie Team honors in her 2014 season.

Barretti is a 2013 alum of F.C. Copa Academy. The West Chester University forward returns back to the organization where her career took off. Barretti has played 40 games for the Golden Rams, recording two goals and an assist in her three years.

Barone-Stern currently plays at Adelphi University. The junior forward has earned an outstanding number of awards including NE-10 Rookie of the Week and a conference title this past Fall 2015 season. Sarah was also a member of the F.C. Copa Academy Real side who holds the only national championship in organization history.

Freda, has amassed an impressive list of accolades in her career. After college, Krystyna took up a professional career with Merilappi United in Finland, where she struck home for the Naisten Liga side an impressive 10 times in 14 games. She also tallied three Game MVP selections for Merilappi during her time there.

Browne was a graduate from F.C. Copa Academy in 2011 and took her talents to Columbia University where she played for three seasons, recording four goals and an assist. Before her undergraduate college career, Browne, was a part of the St. Kitts and Nevis Senior/U-20 Women’s National Team (vice captain) since August 2009 where she has competed in Olympic & FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. After her stint at Columbia University, Browne went on to pursue graduate school while also playing at the University of Texas.

About F.C. Copa Academy & New Jersey Copa F.C.: F.C. Copa Academy provides youth soccer players with a superior coaching staff, a well-defined and progressive player development curriculum and the state of the art training facilities at Rutgers and Rowan University. Since its inception in 2005, F.C. Copa has placed hundreds of players into collegiate programs, multiple players called up to national teams, and players signed to professional club teams including the NWSL. Our youth teams have won countless national showcases, U.S. Youth Soccer and U.S. Club State Cups, Regional and National titles. You can follow NJCFC on social media via these links - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

About United Women’s Soccer (UWS): UWS is a national women’s soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). UWS is a professionally operated league created for teams that meet high minimum standards. The season runs from May until the end of July, culminating in a National Championship match. The UWS player pool is comprised of college players, aspiring & former professionals and international stars. You can follow UWS on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

UWS is managed by EDP, a leading soccer management company that runs a number of leagues and tournaments. In addition to UWS, EDP operates youth leagues that includes the EDP NPL Super Club League, the EDP Premier League and the EDP Championship League. EDP also runs EDP Futures programs for U-7's to U-12's and it conducts more than 20 youth tournaments including those within its EDP Cup Series and EDP Showcase Series.

Media can contact UWS Director of Communications Jorma Kansanen by e-mail at Press@UWSSoccer.com. You can visit the league’s official website at UWSSoccer.com. Interested team applicants can contact League Commissioner Joe Ferrara by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.