LAS VEGAS, NV (02/10/09) - Under an ominous gray sky, the San Francisco Nighthawks of the Pacific Conference of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) won the 2009 Silver Mug Soccer Invitational Tournament, with a 5-0-1 record while capturing 49 out of a possible 60 points. The Nighthawks out-scored their opposition by a 15-2 margin, taking the final against Salt Lake City Sparta of the WPSL Big Sky Conference by a 2-0 score.

Led by 2008 All-Pacific Conference selection Kimberly Boulos (2g, 2a) and Seattle Pacific (reigning NCAA DII National champions) standout & All-West Region honoree Jocelyn Charette (7g, 2a), the Nighthawks were relentless on attack the entire tournament - who were bolstered by the addition of 2007 WPSL Final Four MVP Maria Ruiz to the squad. The tempo of the games was provided by both Boulos (playing as an attacking midfielder) and defensive center midfielder Erica Dubin (an All-West Region selection for NCAA DIII UC-Santa Cruz), who played every minute of the six matches.

"They kept their spirits up despite the driving freezing rain... nothing but smiles on their faces the entire time," said San Francisco General manager Jill Lounsbury. "I give a lot of credit to coaches Aileen Nasypany and Petra Kowalski for keeping the girls focused, happy and positive."

The co-head coaching duo had a feeling this team could take the title, even though the Nighthawks had some obstacles to overcome. After the final, Nighthawk founder & newly retired Richard Cross along with several life-long fans commented that this was the most impressive Nighthawk team ever assembled.

"I was lucky to have such a tremendous group of talented athletes reunite to their summer Nighthawks squad," said Nasypany. "I shared one of my favorite quotes with them - 'championship teams do not show during their wins, they show it when they come together to overcome adversity.' I believed they could win it all. They overcame jetlag [three players traveling from the East Coast] and unfamiliarity."

"With the [2008 WPSL National Champion] Ajax and Storm [of the WPSL Pacific Conference] not sending teams to Vegas this year, everyone was trying to prove that they were going to be the next team-to-beat," said Kowalski. "And I think we made it pretty clear this past weekend that the Nighthawks are going to be that team."

For more information on the San Francisco Nighthawks, visit their official website at http://www.sfnighthawks.com. You can contact G.M. Jill Lounsbury by phone at (415) 722-3816 or by e-mail at jillhawk@earthlink.net. The WPSL is a 50-plus team national women's soccer league with five conferences and is considered one of the top women's soccer leagues in the world.

The WPSL's mission is to provide the highest level of women's soccer while simultaneously providing affordable, quality family entertainment and positive role models for our youth. For more information, visit our official website at http://www.wpsl.info, phone us at 1-800-854-0913 or contact us via email at media@wpsl.info.