Tobin Heath warming up before an international friendly against Canada in 2011. Photo Credit: Ampatent/Creative Commons License

Women's Soccer News: New York Fury Sign USWNT Standout Tobin Heath

The New York Fury have announced the signing of Tobin Heath for the 2012 Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Elite League season. Heath, a talented midfielder who plays on the U.S. Women’s National Team, is a native of New Jersey where she attended Ridge High School in Basking Ridge. She spent portions of the past two seasons with Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS).

Heath will join other former WPS players on the New York Fury, including Gina and Tina DiMartino, Allie Long, Brittany Taylor and Nikki Krzysik, as the team takes the field in the first WPSL Elite League season. The Elite League, which was created in response to the suspension of the 2012 WPS season, features former WPS teams Boston Breakers, Western New York Flash and Chicago Red Stars, WPSL teams ASA Chesapeake Charge, FC Indiana and New England Mutiny, and Philadelphia Fever.

Heath has 42 caps with the National Team and has scored five goals in competition. She was the youngest member of the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal team and played on the silver medal 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup team. In 2009 she was named the U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year and played in two matches against Canada. So far in 2012 she has two goals and two assists in eight games.

Previous to the full National Team, Heath played for the U.S. U-23, U-20 and U-17 Women’s National Teams. She was part of the U-20 team that took second place in the 2007 Pan-American Games and played three matches during the 2006 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Heath also played with the U-16 Girls National Team and was in the U-14 Girls National Team Identification Camp.

After being drafted number one in the 2010 WPS Draft by Atlanta Beat, Heath played in just three games before suffering an ankle injury. She was traded to Sky Blue FC for the 2011 season, but saw limited action because of National Team commitments.

"I'm looking forward to playing for the New York Fury in the WPSL," said Heath. "It's a club with a great mix of talented players and coaches and I hope to contribute to their success this season."

"Tobin is a world class footballer who is technically gifted, has superb vision and special feet," said New York Fury head coach Paul Riley. "She fits our methodology and style of play and we are tremendously excited to have her in New York. Tobin is not only a brilliant player, she brings out the best in the rest. It will be a summer to remember for our youth players to have a player that is so gifted playing in front of them."

The New Jersey product was the state High School Player of the Year as a junior, then went on to be a four year starter at the University of North Carolina. In her freshman year, she helped the Tar Heels to the national championship, and was a freshman All-American, second team NSCAA All-American and second team All-ACC. As a sophomore, she earned first team NSCAA All-America and first team All-ACC honors. She followed that up as a junior by helping the Tar Heels to another title, while picking up second team All-America and first team All-ACC honors.

In her senior year, she was a major factor in leading the Tar Heels to their second straight title, and third in four years. She was a first team All-ACC and NSCAA All-America and was the first runner up for the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Award. She finished her college career with 19 goals and 32 assists.

About New York Fury: After playing the 2011 season in the Women's Premier Soccer League, utilizing many reserve players from the Philadelphia Independence and Sky Blue FC, the New York Fury has moved up to the WPSL Elite League for 2012, joining former WPS franchises Western New York Flash, Boston Breakers and Chicago Red Stars, along with the New England Mutiny, Philadelphia Fever, FC Indiana and the ASA Chesapeake Charge.

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