April 12, 2010

FULLERTON, CA - Former Cal State Fullerton goalkeeper Karen Bardsley posted a shutout in net for Sky Blue FC on Sunday afternoon, helping the Women's Professional Soccer defending champions to a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Red Stars in the season opener.

Bardsley, a four-year letter winner for the Titans from 2002-06, was making only her fifth career WPS start, making five saves on Sunday to record her second career clean sheet and improve to 2-1-2 all-time with Sky Blue FC.

A third-round selection in the 2009 WPS Draft (18th pick overall), Bardsley posted a 0.57 goals against average and eight saves in 315 minutes while helping the team to the league's inaugural championship over the Los Angeles Sol.

She is one of two former Cal State Fullerton standouts currently active in WPS as Kandace Wilson (2002-05) also began her second season with FC Gold Pride on Sunday, playing in 61 minutes and taking a shot on goal as a reserve in a 2-0 loss to St. Louis Athletica.

Wilson played in eight matches (six stars) as a rookie in 2009 before a hip injury ended her season prematurely. She tallied six shots and an assist on the year.

Complete team information and game reports from both season openers can be found on the Sky Blue FC and FC Gold Pride websites.

WPS is the highest level women's professional soccer league in North America. Formed in September 2007 as the result of the efforts of the Women's Soccer Initiative, Inc., WPS, began play on March 29, 2009 and consists of eight teams across the country.

The teams for the 2010 season are the Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride (Bay Area), Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC (NJ / NY), Saint Louis Athletica and Washington Freedom.