Jersey Sky Blue News Release - www.skybluesoccer.com

Friday, December 1, 2006

BEDMINSTER, NJ -- Sky Blue Soccer announced the first-ever signing today for its expansion W-League franchise. Brazilian international and 2005 W-League All-League selection Formiga is the first player to take her place on the Jersey Sky Blue roster for the 2007 season. A veteran of three FIFA Women’s World Cups and three Olympics, Formiga gives Sky Blue a formidable foundation for its inaugural roster.

The Brazilian star joins Jersey Sky Blue after spending the 2006 W-League season with the New Jersey Wildcats. Formiga will be reuniting with Sky Blue head coach Charlie Naimo and assistant coach Denise Reddy. Prior to coming to the United States, Formiga was a standout with Malmö DFF of Sweden’s Damallsvenskan.

Formiga in action with Brazil (Robyn McNeil)

“Formiga was the most exciting player in the W-League in 2006 and we’re really excited to make her the first addition to Sky Blue,” said Jersey Sky Blue head coach Charlie Naimo. “She’ll be a wonderful complement to the other world class players that we’re close to signing. She’s such an entertaining presence out on the field and I’m sure that she’ll be a favorite among the Sky Blue fans.”

During the 2006 W-League season, Formiga garnered W-League All-League honors after helping the New Jersey Wildcats to a 14- 0 regular season mark. She put together a spectacular season leading the team in scoring with 13 goals and two assists in 12 games played. Her 28 points put her in seventh place on the 2006 W- League scoring chart and her 13 goals ranked fifth in the league.

On the international level, behind Formiga Brazil has collected some impressive accomplishments including a silver medal performance at the 2004 Olympics. Formiga also led Brazil to a third-place finish at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, fourth place finishes in both the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, and the championship at the 2003 Pan Am Games. During her storied international career, Formiga appeared in the 1995, 1999, and 2003 World Cups as well as the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympics.

Formiga and Reddy are quite familiar with each other and 2007 will be their fourth straight season together. In addition to working together with the Wildcats in 2006, the duo also teamed up on Malmö. Reddy, who played in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan for 11 years including 10 years with Malmö, played with the Brazilian standout during the 2004 and 2005 seasons in Sweden. Formiga joined Malmö late in the 2004 season following the Athens Olympics and spent a full season with the club in 2005 leading Malmö to an 18-2-2 mark and a second-place finish in the league.

“Formiga is a very smart and very technical player,” Reddy said. “She can play any position and play it well. Formiga has no weaknesses and that’s what makes her one of the best all-around players in the world.”

Season passes for the inaugural Jersey Sky Blue season are on sale now on the internet at the Sky Blue Soccer website http://www.s kybluesoccer.com/. Jersey Sky Blue will call Ridge High School its home for the 2007 season. The 2007 W-League Schedule will be officially announced in mid-December.

SKY BLUE PROFILE: Formiga
• Hometow n: Belém, Brazil
• Born: March 3, 1978
• Birth Name: Miraildes Maciel Mota
Played the 2006 W- League season with the New Jersey Wildcats helping them to a 14-0 regular season mark
• Named to the 2006 W-League All-League team
• Lead the Wildcats in scoring with 13 goals and two assists for 28 points and finished fifth in the W-League in goals and seventh in points
• Named to the W- League Team of the Week three times – Week 5, Week 12, Week 14 – and was also named the Player of the Week in Week 14
• Longtime member of the Brazil Women’s National Team
• Most recently appeared with Brazil at the Peace Queen Cup in South Korea
• Played with Brazil in the 1995, 1999, and 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cups and the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympics
• Stepped into the international scene at the World Cup in 1995 making two appearances as a reserve
• Started all five games at the 1996 Olympics as Brazil finished fourth
• Led Brazil to a third-place finish at the 1999 World Cup coming off the bench in all three opening round games before starting all three games in the knockout phase
• Buried the winning penalty kick in the sixth round of the shootout as Brazil topped Norway 0-0 (5-4) in the consolation match
• Scored twice in four games as Brazil finished in second place at the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
• At the 2000 Olympics, appeared in all five matches with four starts as Brazil finished fourth
• Scored twice in three games as Brazil finished first at the 2002 South American Championship to qualify for the 2003 FIFA World Cup
• At the 2003 Pan Am Games, helped Brazil to the gold medal scoring three times in four games including a goal in the final as Brazil topped Canada 2-1
• Played in three of four games at the World Cup in 2003 as Brazil reached the quarterfinals
• Started all six matches as Brazil captured the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics
• Connected for two goals in a 5-0 win over Mexico in the quarterfinals
• Finished 12th in the FIFA World Player of the Year voting in 2004
• Played for the Brazilian clubs São Paulo (1993-1997, 1999), Portuguesa (1998), Santa Isabel (2000-2001), Santos (2002), and Independente (2003)
• Joined Malmö DFF of Sweden’s Damallsvenskan late in 2004 and scored three times
• Played with Malmö in 2005 scoring four goals to help the club to an 18-2-2 record and second place in the Damallsvenskan