SAINT LOUIS ATHLETICA ACQUIRE AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL SARAH WALSH IN TRADE WITH SKY BLUE FC

ST. LOUIS (JUNE 26, 2009) – Athletica Head Coach and General Manager Jorge Barcellos announced today that Saint Louis Athletica and Sky Blue FC of the new Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league have reached an agreement on a trade. Saint Louis Athletica will send forward Kerri Hanks, midfielder Francielle, and the rights to Brazil’s Renata Costa to Sky Blue FC in exchange for forward Sarah Walsh, the rights to Brazilian midfielder Ester, and conditional draft picks.

Should Sky Blue FC sign Renata Costa Saint Louis will receive Sky Blue’s first round draft pick in 2011. Should Sky Blue FC not be able to come to terms with Costa Saint Louis will receive Sky Blue’s second round pick in 2010.

Sarah Walsh, 26 years old, is a native of Camden, Australia. Walsh has played for several clubs professionally in Australia the most recent of which is Sydney FC. Walsh has been a member of the Australian Women’s National Team since her debut in 2004 and has appeared for them in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and in the 2007 Women’s World Cup in China. Walsh has been capped 57 times by Australia and has returned an impressive 26 goals. Walsh was selected with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the WPS International Player Draft in 2008.

Ester, 26, has been a mainstay of Brazil and has played for Athletica Head Coach Jorge Barcellos in the 2007 Women’s World Cup and in the 2008 Olympic Games. Ester appeared in five games for Brazil in the Beijing Olympic Games and she played in all six of Brazil’s games in the 2007 World Cup. Brazil made it to the finals in each competition.

Kerri Hanks was the first round pick of Saint Louis, sixth overall, in the 2009 WPS Draft. Hanks made 10 appearances, including six starts, scoring one goal and registering one assist. Francielle appeared in six games for Saint Louis making three starts.

Saint Louis Athletica is next in action Sunday night June 28 against Sky Blue FC at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University. The game can be seen on the Fox Soccer Channel, FSC. The next Athletica home game is on July 22 against Sky Blue FC at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Pak. Individual tickets for the game are on sale at www.saintlouisathletica.com or call 1-888-STL-Goal.