May 21, 2010
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Former University of Missouri women's soccer player Janelle Cordia, a four-year letterwinner from 2005-2008, will continue her playing career in New York this summer for Hudson Valley Quickstrike FC.
"It's a great opportunity to continue on with soccer and pursue my professional ambitions," Cordia said. "The experience will expose me to different styles and allow me to learn from many different players."
Quickstrike FC is a member of the United Soccer League's W-League and is part of the Sky Blue Soccer organization that features an affiliation with Sky Blue FC of Women's Professional Soccer. Coached by Jesse Kolmel, Cordia will play alongside fellow Big 12 product Erica Campanelli, as well as Brazilian national team player Gabriela Zanotti and Mexican National teamer Jackie Acevedo.
Cordia played in every game of her collegiate career at Missouri, ranking second all-time with 84 games played at the end of her senior season when she led the Tigers to their first Big 12 Championship as a team co-captain. The Columbia, Mo., native compiled 60 starts and recorded five goals and four assists as a midfielder and defender, including the fastest goal in Missouri history, 44 seconds into a 3-0 win over Northwestern State as a sophomore.
In addition to her college experience, Cordia tallied two goals and two assists as a member of the 2006 River Cities FC squad that won the Midwest Conference and reached the Women's Premier Soccer League championship match.
A triple major in secondary education, mathematics and psychology, Cordia graduated last weekend and was a three-time Academic All-Big 12 first team honoree. She also served as an assistant soccer coach at Hickman High School, her alma mater, this spring.
Based in Newburgh, N.Y., approximately 65 miles north of New York City, Hudson Valley competes in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference and is the reigning regular season champions. Cordia will travel with the team for their season opener on Saturday, May 22 to face the Long Island Rough Riders in South Huntington, N.Y.