NYSW Talent Featured In WUSA Founders Cup

Wambach & Zimny To Play In Championship Game

New York State West Youth Soccer will be well represented in this year's WUSA Founder's Cup, due to the presences of Washington Freedom rookies Abby Wambach and Casey Zimny.  Both are former NYSWYSA players from Rochester.

Abby Wambach made a huge impact in her first WUSA season. As the first draft pick by the Freedom, Wambach led the Freedom in goals, assists, and shots and was named WUSA Rookie of the Year. Casey Zimny was the second round draft pick for the Freedom. She started in six of the 15 games she played in this season, and picked up a shot-on-goal. 

The Washington Freedom will meet up against the Carolina Courage, Saturday at 4pm ET at Herndon Stadium in downtown Atlanta, GA. The game will be broadcast nationwide on PAX TV. 


Casey Zimny (Credit: Washington Freedom)   
Abby Wambach signing an autograph for a fan. (Credit: Washington Freedom)
New York State West Youth Soccer will be well represented in this year's WUSA Founder's Cup, due to the presences of Washington Freedom rookies Abby Wambach and Casey Zimny. 
 
Abby Wambach made a huge impact in her first WUSA season. As the first draft pick by the Freedom, Wambach led the Freedom in goals, assists, and shots and was named Week Four Player of the Week. Wambach ended the regular season as the leading rookie scorer (10g, 9 a, 29 pts. - tied for fourth in overall scoring), and was named WUSA Rookie of the Year. Abby is also a member of the US Women's National Team.

Casey Zimny was the second round draft pick for the Freedom. She started in six of the 15 games she played in this season, and picked up a shot-on-goal.  Her coach says that she is an "excellent defender who understands zone and individual man-to-man defenses," and that "she brings speed and (that) her comfort level on the ball and ability on the ball is about the best we have in the back." Casey is also a member of the US under-21 National Team.
 
They both spent their formative years in Rochester, N.Y., and played together on the New York State West Olympic Development Program team. Even though they attended different high schools and colleges, their common bond is their position on the far right end of the alphabet.
 
"I pretty much grew up with Abby in Rochester. I played on boy's teams with her. We always roomed together in ODP because of our last names," said Zimny.
 
Both played under the leadership of 2002 US Youth Soccer Coach of the Year, Dan Shoniker.
 
The Washington Freedom will meet up against the Carolina Courage, Saturday at 4pm ET at Herndon Stadium in downtown Atlanta, GA. The game will be broadcast nationwide on PAX TV.