BEVERLY, MA (02/19/10) - The traditional New England winter has yet to come to fruition, and Boston Aztec - the professional affiliate of the Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) - have taken advantage as they begin to warm up for the Summer 2010 campaign in the East Conference of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL). Yesterday, the team announced that Mike Kersker will serve as Head Coach of the Breakers minor league team this season.

Kersker - President of New England Aztec and Athletic Director at the Waring School in Beverly, MA - has more than a decade of NCAA Div. III head coaching experience under his belt with Salem State and Endicott College. In 2009, Mike served as head coach for the Boston Aztec NPSL men's team, the NPSL's 2009 Atlantic Conference champions.

Kersker was the starting outside back for Salem State College's NCAA Final Four team in 1990, a captain at NCAA Division I San Diego State University and was General Manager of the Boston Aztecs PASL Indoor Men's National Champions in 2005. The Beverly High School Athletic Hall of Fame inductee possesses a NSCAA National & Advanced National Diplomas and a Bachelor's of Science degreee in Applied Arts & Sciences - Concentration on Coaching from San Diego State University.

The new Aztec mentor already has two veteran players at his disposal, as the team has signed Selin Kuralay and Rebekah Splaine to the Boston Breakers reserve team. Kuralay is Australian-born and was a two-time All-American at Florida State University (2005-06) where she was a Semi-Finalist for the 2005 Hermann Trophy.

In 2008 & 2009, Kuralay played for the Melbourne Victory in the W-League (Australia), and tallied three goals and an assist. Selin has also played internationally for the Australian National Team at the U-19 FIFA World Cup in Canada and has made 22 appearances for the Senior National Team, scoring 2 goals.

"We're very pleased to have Selin for the upcoming season," said Dushawne "Doc" Simpson, Director of Player Personnel for the Aztecs. "She will be able to add great experience and international class to our roster."

Splaine will return to the Boston Aztecs for her third season. Splaine served as a player/coach in 2009, but will focus on field play in 2010. She tallied two goals and an assist in 7 games played in 2009. Rebekah was a developmental player for the Boston Breakers (WUSA) in 2003 and has also spent time with the Boston Renegades (W-League USA) and New England Mutiny (WPSL).

"I'm very excited to be back with the Aztecs again this year," said Splaine. "I hope to help the team make the playoffs again and go further this year."

On the other hand, the team has lost two of their prior stars for this summer's campiagn, but in a good way. Earlier this month, Atlanta Beat (WPS) General Manager Shawn McGee announced that free agents Brett Maron and Marisha Schumacher-Hodge were the newest additions to the expansion team's roster.

After playing for the Aztecs WPSL team, Maron played professionally in both Iceland and Sweden and in 2008, was named to the mid-season Top Eleven in the Icelandic Premiership before joining Kristianstad in Damallsvenskan (Swedish Premier League). Schumacher-Hodge, who attended preseason with the Boston Breakers last year and played for the Aztecs all summer, earned America East Midfielder of the Year and was named to both the America East All-Conference First Team and the NSCAA All-Northeast Region Team in her senior season for Boston University.

"As a goalkeeper, Brett has played the last two seasons in separate leagues in Europe and has gained some valuable experience," said Atlanta Beat Head Coach Gareth O'Sullivan. "She played one season for me in Iceland and really impressed me... We first saw Marisha at our open try-out in November and were immediately impressed with her. She impressed again at our invitation-only try-out in December."

Boston Aztec will also be fielding a U-23 side this summer - comprised of college players - and Simpson will serve as that team's Head Coach this upcoming season, alongside his duties as Girls Technical Director for the New England Aztec Youth Program. From 2005-08, "Doc" was head coach of the Boston Aztec WPSL women's team when Maron patrolled the pitch.

In 2009, he was co-coach of the Aztec U-23 women's team that won the local EMWSL title, and now that team is taking the next step up into the WPSL. Simpson played at Southern Connecticut University and Salem State College before playing professionally in the USL with the New Hampshire Phantoms and the A-League's Connecticut Wolves and Boston Bulldogs. In the most competitive amateur indoor soccer league in the country, he led the Boston Aztec PASL team to three consecutive PASL New England Regional titles and one PASL National Championship.

The Aztec organization has also announced their "Host A Player" Program, as the team's recruiting has taken them to all corners of the United States and around the globe. With this influx of talent to the Boston area, the Aztecs need to arrange housing for these talented young women.  

Boston is looking for families that are willing to open their home from April through July and provide a place for one or more of these players. All that is required is an extra room with space for their belongings and hospitality that makes these women feel welcome. Transportation of that player is not the responsibility of the host family.   

As part of the program: all players will complete a CORI; all players will sign a host family agreement; and, families will receive a season pass to Boston Aztecs home games. If you are interested in hosting a player, please contact Brandon Nelson at brandonnelson@neaztec.com.

About Boston Aztec: The Boston Aztec women's team (WPSL) is a minor league affiliate for the Boston Breakers (WPS), while the Boston Aztec U23's will also compete in the WPSL starting in 2010 and be comprised entirely of college players. New England Aztec is the managing organization of Boston Aztec. New England Aztec is a premier soccer development organization with boy's and girl's youth teams from U-11 to U-18. The organization also runs the U-8/U-10 Academy Premier League and various other programs for players of all ages based out of Soccer ETC in Beverly, MA. For more information, please contact Eric Slack of Aztec Communications at ericslack@neaztec.com or by phone at 508-982-0798.

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!!

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