Jersey Sky Blue News Release - www.skybluesoccer.com

Thursday, January 4, 2006

BEDMINSTER, NJ – Jersey Sky Blue added an international component to its roster today with the announcement that Erla Arnardóttir will join the team for its debut season. Sky Blue Soccer’s W-League women’s soccer expansion franchise will make its debut in 2007 with the Icelandic international in the lineup. Arnardóttir is a regular with the Iceland National Team and a veteran of the Damallsvenskan – Sweden’s top women’s league.

Arnardóttir joins Jersey Sky Blue with 15 caps for the full Iceland National Team. Her most recent appearance came when she played the full 90 minutes in a 2-1 defeat to the United States in Richmond, VA on October 8, 2006. She has one goal in her 15 appearances and also has 14 appearances with the Iceland Under-21 National Team.

"Erla is a very versatile player that is capable of playing at the highest level," said Jersey Sky Blue assistant coach Denise Reddy, who played against Arnardóttir during her time with Malmö of the Damallsvenskan.

"Her strongest attribute is her technical ability at high speed which makes her dangerous every time the ball is at her feet."

Arnardóttir has played four seasons in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan including the 2005 and 2006 seasons with Mallbacken. She scored six times in her two seasons with Mallbacken. The midfielder/forward also played with Stattena in 2003 and Sunnanå in 2004. Arnardóttir joins Brazilian star Formiga as Jersey Sky Blue’s second international signing. The two played against each other in 2004 and 2005 when Formiga was with Malmö.

"Denise gets all the credit for this signing," said Jersey Sky Blue head coach Charlie Naimo. "We are always lucky to sign full internationals and Erla will be another impact player for Sky Blue."

Season passes for the inaugural Jersey Sky Blue season are on sale now on the internet at the Sky Blue Soccer website www.SkyBlueSoccer.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 January.

SKY BLUE PROFILE: Erla Arnardóttir
• Hometown: Helsingborg, Sweden
• Born: 5/18/1983
• Member of the Iceland National Team
• Has one goal in 15 appearances for Iceland
• Her last international appearance came in a 2-1 loss to the United States on October 8, 2006 in Richmond, VA
• Made 14 appearances for the Iceland Under-21 National Team
• Has played the past for seasons in the Damallsvenskan – Sweden’s top women’s league
• Played for Mallbacken in 2005 and 2006 and also played for Sunnanå in 2004 and Stattena in 2003
• Previously played for Breiðablik in Iceland

photo: Jens Ormslev