New York Magic

Magic Sign Eight from Abroad

Diverse lineup excites coach DePasquali

 

New York Magic-FA Euro News Release - www.NYMagicSoccer.com

Friday, May 10, 2013

NEW YORK CITY, NY. - The New York Magic continued the introduction of their 2013 squad with the announcement of a eight players from abroad, including three each from Japan and the British Isles.
 
Joining their previously announced returning countrywoman Aya Noguchi of Japan, the trio of Hikaru Murakami, Ayaki Shinada and Hakari Sato will join the New York Magic for the season.
 
Shinada returns to the team for a third season after playing all but five minutes in the back line a year ago and seeing action in six games in 2011. She is currently a sophomore at Lindsey Wilson, coming off an NAIA Championship season in which she tallied a goal and five assists while starting 22 of 24 games played. As a freshman she played in 20 games and made a splash with her first two goals coming in the opening round of the NAIA tournament while helping lead her team to a stellar defensive performance that saw them allow only 11 goals.
 
Murakami is also a college sophomore, but is a starring midfielder for Florida State where she started 23 of 24 appearances last season after playing 20 games as a freshman.
 
"I am very excited to see the four players [Noguchi, Shinada, Murakami and Sato] play together on the Magic," said Magic head coach Nino DePasquali. "They each bring a wealth of experience and talent to the Magic and they learned from the same school of discipline and technique that won Japan the last World Cup. I hope they bring some of that presence to the New York Magic."
 
Leading a contingent of four players from Europe are a pair of Long Island University products. Toni Smith of England is returning to the Magic after playing in all 11 games last year with one goal scored. She made two appearances in 2011. Smith has been a leading striker for LIU, coming back from injury in dynamic fashion. She was the second leading scorer on the team in her debut in 2010 with five goals and three assists. After missing 2011 for injury she came back finish as the team leader in scoring with seven goals and an assist.
 
Smith’s LIU teammate and countrywoman Lucy Gunton-Jones, an English youth international, is a newcomer that started 17 of her 21 LIU appearances last fall as a freshman midfielder.
 
Charlotte McCormack of Ireland is a young goalkeeper coming off a freshman campaign at Clayton State University in which she played only five times, posting a 3-1-0 record with a 1.00 GAA with four goals allowed and one shutout.
 
Also among the European additions is Poland youth international Evelyn Nicinski of Bucknell. As a sophomore last fall, the midfielder was sixth on the team in minutes and fourth in scoring with three goals and three assists. As a freshman she tallied one goal while making 11 starts in 12 appearances.
 
Rounding out the foreign contingent is midfielder Lorena Maggio, who played in the Australian W-League a year ago for Adelaide United.
 
NEXT HOME GAME (Friendly): Tuesday, May 14 – The Magic play host to the Boston Breakers Reserve squad at the Aviator Sports Center in Brooklyn, NY (6:00 pm ET).
 
NEXT HOME GAME: Sunday, May 19 - The Magic play host to the Fredericksburg Impact at Old Boys High School Stadium (2:00 pm ET).
 
For tickets, schedule and information contact: Lyndelle T. Phillips at 212-447-0932.