Coach StuA soccer coach for more than two decades, Pierson has coached successful teams at the adult amateur level in the NoVa/Metro Hispanic Leagues, youth travel, youth rec, high school boys, high school girls, and more recently has served as a Volunteer Assistant for the Howard University Womens Program. Coach Pierson maintains a website for “all things soccer,” found at www.strikepartner.com. A lifelong player, Pierson competed in college for the nationally ranked, University of the South “Sewanee” Tigers. Coach Pierson holds a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma as well as a USSF C License. Coach JessJess McLaughlin joined the Pride in Spring of 2009. Jess holds a USSF "C" License and extensive playing experience including as a 4-year starter at the University of Texas at Austin. She also participated in the Olympic Development Program and was a graduate of W.T. Woodson H.S in Fairfax, VA. Jess also worked with the Pride during 2006-7 as part of the SYC Academy program. Jess currently trains Pride Fire. Coach EdithEdith Hernandez joined the Pride in Fall of 2009 and currently trains Pride Panthers and Pride Pumas. Edith has been coaching and doing individual/small group and team trainings in the Northern VA area since 1996, including coaching WAGS Division 1 teams for several years. One of the teams she trained and was the assistant coach for was the BRYC Attack, formerly known as Arlington Attack, from U11 to U15. The other was BRYC AZUL, a 5-time VA State Champion and a Region 1 runner up. She was there for three of those five championships. In addition, several of the other teams she has trained have had undefeated seasons, both in WAGS and ODSL. Edith has trained so many kids throughout the years that she can go to almost any high school soccer game in Northern VA and see kids she has trained on both teams. "Edith's Way" continues to help teams develop and move up divisions and/or leagues. Many players trained by her have succeeded in making the VA State ODP team. Also, some of her trainees have made the ODP Region 1 team and have competed on the National ODP competition. Lastly, many of the players she has trained have gone on to play collegiate soccer, including one of her former players currently plays for the Washington Freedom. Off Season TrainingWinter Schedule Scrimmages and Winter Tournaments are also part of the regular schedule for the Pride girls. This season the teams participated in an indoor tournament in Maryland as well as a New Years Eve scrimmage at the South Run Indoor Fieldhouse. Additional scrimmages at West Springfield HS turf field were also a popular event for the girls. TryoutsWe are always looking for new players who could be a valuable addition to our program. Interested girls can contact our head coach Mike Jones (coachmike@sycpride.org) at any time to join us for a training session and be evaluated by the Pride coaches and trainers. We also hold open tryouts in early June every year. Our head coach and age group coordinator is Mike Jones. |