EUGENE, Ore. – The Portland Rain, the newest addition to the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) will begin its inaugural season this month. Joining the team will be a current Northwest Christian University soccer player, along with a soccer alumnae.

Among the 27 selections to the initial roster is 2009 NCU senior Sarah Stalling (left), along with Stacy Ermini (below, right), who was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Beacons inaugural season in 2006 and graduated from Northwest Christian the following spring.

After a season-ending injury just eight minutes into her Beacon career in 2007, Stalling rebounded and was a key member of last year's NCU squad that scored a school-record 30 goals and won five games. Head Women's Soccer Coach Jonathan Rea said, “Sarah was a great scorer in junior college and that's why we recruited her to come and play here at NCU, unfortunately she injured her knee during the first game of the season two years ago and missed all of that year. Last season she was still finding herself, but what a great success story to come all the way back, go and tryout with a women's professional team and make the roster! It is a testament to her hard work, dedication and perseverance. I am very excited that she will be back with us for one more year, and I look for great production and leadership from her after this summer playing for the Portland Rain.”

The Rain's 2009 inaugural season kicks off this Sunday versus Seattle Synergy at Hillsboro Stadium. The 2009 Portland Rain includes a number of standout players who have committed to bringing competitive soccer to the spotlight in the Portland Area.

Coach Rea added, “The fact that we are just three years old and two players from our program have made it to the women's professional league just shows how competitive the Cascade Collegiate Conference and the NAIA really are. Even though NCU may seem like a small school, the quality of the players and coaching staff gives young women just as great a chance to reach their dreams of playing at the next level as attending a “big” school. Both Sarah and Staci will be great ambassadors of Northwest Christian University in their professional careers, and I couldn't be prouder or happier for either of them.”

Some key players to sign include M/F Allison Williams, who was the 2005 SEC Player of the Year at the University of Georgia, former Oregon 4A Player of the Year Melissa Beal, and Cameroon National Team member Ngum Suh. Also, four current and former members of the CCC champion and NAIA national runner-up Concordia Cavaliers. They include 2008 NAIA Player of the Year Jackie Pronovost, her All-American sister Justine Pronovost, and current Concordia goalkeeper Georgie Christensen, also a 2008 All-American. 

For More Information on the Portland Rain FC: http://portlandrainfc.com/index.htm