Griffin Signs with Franklin's Lady Blues

Griffin Signs with Franklin’s Lady Blues

4/18/2006

Franklin, <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 />TN –  The Women’s Premier Soccer league (WPSL) has just granted Tennessee FC Lady Blues an expansion team in their Midwest Region. The WPSL is the highest level of women’s soccer in the United States and top in the world. Its mission is to provide a highly competitive level of women’s soccer, while simultaneously providing affordable, quality, family entertainment and positive role models for our youth. “We are very excited to have granted Tennessee FC a spot in our Midwest Region. We are positive they will bring a very competitive organization into the league,” said Jerry Zanelli, WPSL Commissioner. <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O />
The Lady Blues began with signing Rebekah McDowell, former All-American and All-ACC Soccer Standout for the UNC Tar Heels and for the Philadelphia Charge, along with the Boston Breakers of the WUSA. McDowell was an All-American and All-ACC player, having played for UNC from 1996-2000 before being drafted into the WUSA. McDowell also played for the U.S. Women’s U-21 National Team, where she played in Norway and won the Nordic Cup. She was later inducted into the Colorado Sportswomen Hall of Fame.

VanderbiltUniversity standout goalkeeper Tyler Griffin has also committed to the Lady Blues. Griffin was named to the 2005 NSCAA/adidas Women’s Division I All-America Third Team. Griffin, who posted the finest season ever by a VU goalkeeper, is only the third Commodore ever included on the NSCAA All-American team.

The team expects to sign some of this region’s best college players, amateur and local youth players. “This is very exciting for the soccer community of Middle Tennessee. Having some of the very best soccer players in the world playing matches in our area will be quite unique”, said Chris Price the Lady Blues head coach. “We expect to bring high quality soccer to the many soccer families and supporters of Middle Tennessee.” “The games will be an event for this community!”

Tennessee FC Lady Blues is owned and managed by Rick Forsythe, CEO and President of TeamSportsOnline LLC, based in Franklin, TN. TeamSportsOnline LLC is a sports marketing and solutions-based company that specializes in providing web marketing and communication tools to professional, amateur, and youth sports programs around the world. TSO currently represents and works with AC Milan US Operations, one of the top professional soccer clubs in the world, (USYSA) US Youth Soccer Association in Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and Alaska. TSO also works with a large number of youth soccer organizations throughout the US, and locally, including the Tennessee Futbol Club and Columbia Soccer Associations.