Coaches Corner w/ Paul Riley
After an exciting month of drafts, trades, and player signings, we caught up with Head Coach Paul Riley to hear his thoughts on everything going on with the Independence. Hear what Paul has to say about the status of the team and the exciting road ahead!
How are you feeling after the International and Expansion Drafts?
PAUL: I’m very pleased. We went into the Expansion Draft looking for players to fill roles, and the International Draft for players to make a difference, and I think we accomplished both of those objectives.
How is the team shaping up?
PAUL: We have the spine of our team in place, and we have a strong foundation to build upon. We acquired mostly defenders in the Expansion Draft, and now have a highly experienced center back in Charlotte Rohlin. It’s tough to have a defensive unit without experience, and Charlotte will be key in the back. Our midfield is very strong, with a great combination of size, speed, and experience. Caroline Seger is the best box-to-box midfielder in the world, and she is the type of player that will make a huge difference for us. Offensively, we went into the International Draft looking for someone to score goals, and Leanne Sanderson has that ability. She’s very good around the edge of the box and is able to bring her midfielders into the attack.
How will Amy Rodriguez fit into the big picture for the Independence?
PAUL: Amy is a first class player with great physical qualities. She is very quick, tremendous in one-on-one situations, and has a nose for the goal. She is still young but has all the ingredients of being a top professional. I’m excited to work with Amy and delighted to add her to an already explosive forward line.
What are the next steps to bring in players?
PAUL: Obviously, our number one priority now is getting a goalkeeper locked up, which we will try to do before the college draft. We will probably still be looking for another outside defender, and will continue to create depth all over the field. Right now we have a team, and we have the chance to build a squad!
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