MONROE, La. --- While most student-athletes spend the summer conditioning and training for the upcoming campaign, one member of the ULM soccer team continues to compete at the highest level and is poised to bring more club hardware to the bayou when she returns to campus in August.
Looking to defend her club national championship with the Colorado Rush from a season ago, sophomore midfielder Kelly Browne took a big step towards the repeat with a Region IV championship in Lancaster, Calif., over the weekend.
Browne, a starting central midfielder for the Rush, tallied five assists over the course of the first six matches in the tournament. Playing in arguably the most challenging region of the four in United States Youth Soccer, the Rush have dismantled their opponents to the tune of a 23-3 goal differential through the first six games in claiming the region title.
“We have a really good club team and it is a lot of fun to play with them during the summer,” Browne said. “We are just going out there, playing soccer, and having fun.”
The Rush has done more than just compete. The Colorado State Champions swept through pool play with an 8-0 win against Hawaii Leahi Premier, a 6-0 win against Oregon FC Portland Crimson, and a close 2-2 shoot-out victory against Utah's Avalanche Premier.
A pair of close wins by the Rush in the quarterfinals and finals over New Mexico Rio Vista and Southern California Eagles was followed by a dominant 3-0 win over the Avalanche in the finals.
For Browne, the continued play against the nation's top competition has the sophomore poised for another strong season at ULM.
“Competing at this level is going to help me a lot when I get back to Monroe in August,” Browne said. “Just the speed of the game and the level of talent from our opponents alone will help me be prepared and at the top of my game for the upcoming season.”
As a freshman last season for the Warhawks, Browne started all 18 matches, scored four goals and added one assist.
“Kelly is a great competitor and a real asset to our team,” ULM head coach Stacy Lamb said. “Coming off a national championship last season, she was one of our top performers as a freshman. With a year of college competition behind her and hopefully a second national championship, she will be that much better and help us get to where we need to be in the Sun Belt Conference. I am excited for her this summer and can't wait to get her and the team back on campus to prepare for 2009.”
ULM opens the 2009 regular season at home against Belhaven College on August 22 at 4 p.m.
Based out of Littleton, Colo., the Rush roster is stacked with talent, having 18 players who have completed their first season playing with a Division I university. In their final year of eligibility, the Rush looks to claim the U19 title after taking the U18 one a season ago.
Looking to keep its run towards a championship going, the Rush will return to Colorado to train before traveling to Lancaster, Mass., and the Youth Soccer National Championships starting July 21.
US Youth Soccer Region IV Tournament Results
Pool Play: Colorado Rush def. Hawaii Leahi Premier, 8-0
Pool Play: Colorado Rush def. Oregon FC Portland Crimson, 6-0
Pool Play: Colorado Rush def. Utah Avalanche Premier, 2-2 (won in penalty kicks)
Quarterfinals: Colorado Rush def. New Mexico Rio Vista FC, 3-1
Semifinals: Colorado Rush def. Southern California Eagles, 1-0
Finals: Colorado Rush def. Utah Avalanche Premier, 3-0
