Official Press Release
DaCosta, Taylor, Benefiting from Professional Environment Locally and Internationally
Newburgh, NY – For the past week, Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues midfielder Amanda DaCosta has been training with the United States U-23 National Team in Lorain, Ohio, a Northeast Ohio town that is home to the Premier Soccer Academies.
Amanda DaCosta
Training camp is going well for the team thus far. It defeated FC Indiana, one of the top W-League teams, 2-1 in one of the team’s camp friendlies.
While DaCosta has been to such training camps before, her recent experiences with the Quicktrike Lady Blues only helped elevate her game.
She is part of a player pool for the U.S. U-23 National Team that includes Quickstrike Lady Blues teammate Brittany Taylor, both of whom are Hudson Valley natives and developed through the Quickstrike FC youth system.
Brittany Taylor
Now, the two compete at the highest level of the Quickstrike FC program with the Lady Blues, and are being rewarded for their stellar play in one of the country’s toughest divisions. The high level of the Quickstrike Lady Blues (5-0-1, 16 pts, 1st in the Northeast Division) has helped prepare them for the international level.
“The intensity of our training sessions at Quickstrike has really aided me in the transition,” DaCosta said of her experience at training camp. “It’s hard for a lot of people when they go away on summer teams to keep that level and speed of play, so that was good that I have that.”
Taylor also feels that the Quickstrike Lady Blues as well as her time with Quickstrike FC youth teams has helped her in preparing for the national team. She was not at training camp in Ohio, but serves as the team’s captain.
“Being here, it definitely prepares myself and other players like Amanda to be in the same environment,” Taylor said. “It gives us the same professional environment – the level of training, different type of training, tactical sessions – basically the same breakdown of what goes on, even down to having team meals.”
Quickstrike Lady Blues Head Coach Jesse Kolmel said that the team’s model is based off of various different professional systems, including Sky Blue FC, the Hudson Valley’s parent team.
“At the end of the day, it is all about professionalism,” Kolmel said.
However, there is one key difference between the two situations. Now, two of the Hudson Valley’s best players can compete in front of their hometown crowd and get involved in the community.
“I think the only thing that is different, because we have time, is being able to reach out to the community,” Taylor said.
“I know if I were a young girl in the area I would be pretty inspired by that,” DaCosta said. “It’s a big role to take on. You have to know that you are always being watched and that you are always going to be a role model.”
Kolmel could not agree more and said that he could not think of two better role models for the Quickstrike Lady Blues.
“It’s easy as a coach to say ‘be like that player,’ but now they have this touchable force in front of them,” he said. “Most importantly, it is a female role model for these players.”
So, DaCosta knows that a lot will be expected of her when she returns home to the first-place Lady Blues. Meanwhile, she has the opportunity to be one of the youngest players on the U.S. U-23 National Team at the young age of 19.
Should she perform well enough, she could find herself alongside Taylor in London in July for a U-23 friendly tournament that will culminate the work of the team this spring. No matter where her or any Quickstrike Lady Blues player travels, they will always be appreciated at home.
“Personally I am very honored to work with such focused individuals such as them and it’s exciting to have them on the roster,” Kolmel said.
Please direct all media inquiries to Jeff Kassouf, Director of Communications for the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues.-----
Based in the Hudson Valley, NY, Quickstrike FC is a registered 501(c)3 soccer program which offers comprehensive development opportunities for boys and girls from ages U9 through U20, including a W-League women’s team.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
QUICKSTRIKE FC … info@quickstrikefc.com … www.QuickstrikeFC.com
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