Women's Soccer News: Boston Breakers add Amanda DaCosta to WPSL Elite League Roster

March 6, 2012 - PRLog -- Sacramento, California - March 6, 2012 - The Boston Breakers have brought more talent to their midfield, adding former Florida State University standout Amanda DaCosta to their 2012 Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Elite League roster.

DaCosta, who trained with the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team in January 2012, was the 17th overall selection in the 2011 WPS Draft, taken by the South Florida based club magicJack.

The Katonah, N.Y., native broke into the U.S. National Team system in 2006 for the U-17 team. She competed with the U.S. U-20s at the Cyprus Cup in March 2008, playing three games (one start against Holland). DaCosta was first invited to participate in training camp with the U.S. U-23 Women's National Team in Cleveland, Ohio in 2009 and twice in 2010.

At Florida State, DaCosta earned All-America honors her senior year and was an All-ACC selection all four years. She is tied for the school record for game-winning assists (10) and is third in career assists with 24.

DaCosta joins a Breakers roster that already includes midfielders Leslie Osborne, Australian international Tameka Butt, and Bianca D’Agostino, defender Cat Whitehill, and forwards Katie Schoepfer, Courtney Jones, and Australian international Kyah Simon.

The Breakers also announced that spirited forward/defender Taryn Hemmings will rejoin the team for her third season with the club. Hemmings recently completed her first international season, helping Canberra United win the Westfield W-League championship in Australia. In her previous two seasons with Boston she played in 29 games with 14 starts. She was originally chosen in the seventh round of the 2010 WPS Draft.

During her four years at Denver University, Hemmings racked up 112 points on 42 goals and 28 assists as a forward, putting her second all-time when she finished her college career. She was named Sun Belt Player of the Year and Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2008. Hemmings was also named to the 2008 Soccer Buzz All-Central Region First Team and the 2008 NSCAA All-Central Region SecondTeam. Prior to being drafted by Boston she played for the W-League's Real Colorado from 2006 to 2009.

The 2012 WPSL Elite League features eight teams: the Boston Breakers, Aztec MA, New England Mutiny, Western New York Flash, Chicago Red Stars, FC Indiana, Chesapeake Charge, and Philadelphia Fever. The 2012 WPSL season will begin in early spring and run through the summer.

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The Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) is the largest national Women’s Soccer League in the world. With more than 70-plus women’s soccer teams, the WPSL is the leading amateur soccer league in America.