LIBERTYVILLE, IL (01/27/10) - Out of the story-lines heading up to the 2010 season in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL), the expansion of the Midwest Conference can be considered the most important of all. Not just quantity but quality, as the Eclipse Select Soccer Association - a defending United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) National Champion organization based out of Libertyville, IL - will be added to the Midwest line-up this summer.

Chicago Eclipse Select is now expanding with the addition of this WPSL team, as the club has been primarily focused on the development of youth players. That foundation is a strong base to build from, which this season will be the responsibility of Head Coach Rory Dames & his coaching staff of Mike Nesci and General Manager Scott Fonfara. Nesci - formerly the Head Coach of the Chicago Cobras - hopes to bring his players to the Eclipse Select to further augment their roster in the team's effort to hit the ground running this season.

"We are looking forward to joining the WPSL and are very excited for the opportunity to compete in this prominent league," said Dames. "This will serve as an outstanding opportunity for players to improve their game in a competitive atmosphere during the summer. We believe this will be a positive experience for everyone involved."

"We are excited to provide some of the older girls with a quality environment to train in and we look forward to competing in a league that is full of talent," said Fonfara.

"Both on and off the field, Eclipse Select has showcased a commitment to the game that should translate well to the WPSL," said WPSL Commissioner Jerry Zanelli. "They're one of the new additions this year that may raise the level of play in our league to an even higher level than what we've already seen."

Since 1997, Dames has served as the Director of Coaching & Player Development for the Eclipse Select Soccer Club. In 2007, Soccer America named Eclipse Select the top girl's soccer club in the nation. As a player, Dames appeared in the 1991 NCAA Final Four during his career at St. Louis University and upon completely his collegiate eligibility, played a season with the Rockford Raptors in the USISL.

The club has been very successful on the national stage in youth soccer, with five USYSA National Champion teams and eleven USYSA National Finalists. This past summer at Citizens Bank Fields in Lancaster, MA, the U-17 Final featured a pair of powerhouses in Eclipse Select and PDA Fire (N.J.), yet, the Chicago-area club made amends for their 2008 National Runner-up finish with an emphatic 4-0 victory.

The Eclipse Select Soccer Club was formed in 1997 to facilitate the elite level youth soccer players. It began with two teams and has evolved into a program consisting of over 60 teams throughout the Chicago-land area. The club now offers programs for players from all levels and ages, from pre-school children to collegiate level and national team athletes.

Now, the club's success has evolved upwards into the professional ranks, as in the recent Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) Draft held in Philadelphia, PA, three Eclipse Select alumni were drafted by WPS organizations. The Chicago Red Stars selected Michele Weissenhofer (Notre Dame) in the 4th Round & Jackie Santacaterina (University of Illinois-Champaign) in the 7th Round, while Sarah Teegarden (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) was selected by St. Louis Athletica in the 6th Round. For more information on WPS, visit their official website at http://www.womensprosoccer.com.

Eclipse Select will be one of the Illinois members of the WPSL. Schedules and more information will be available at http://www.eclipseselect.org. Stay tuned to the official website of the WPSL at http://www.wpsl.info in the coming days & weeks for more news on the further expansion of the Midwest Conference.

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About the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL): The WPSL is a 50-plus team national league with five conferences starting in 2010 and is the largest women's soccer league in the world. The league is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) as an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The WPSL's mission is to provide the highest level of soccer in our effort to: bring affordable & quality family entertainment to the community; display positive role models for our youth; while, being a stepping stone for aspiring players to Women's Professional Soccer (WPS).

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@wpslsoccer.com. You can also keep up with our league on our social media networking sites on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter!!