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News Release

Nicci Wright Joins UMBC Women’s Soccer Staff as Assistant Coach

1/22/2007

Nicci Wright played for the Canadian Women's World Cup team for seven years.

Baltimore-UMBC head women’s soccer coach Tara Koleski today announced the hiring of Nicci Wright as assistant coach. Wright was the starting goalkeeper for the 1999 Canadian Women’s World Cup Team.

“This is a positive for our program, a step in the right direction,” Koleski said. “Nicci has a lot of experience and knowledge of the game, and she will help take the program to the next level. It should be exciting for the players to have someone of her caliber come in, as well.”

Wright started 38 international games for the Canadian National Team from 1996-2003, the most in Canadian soccer history upon her retirement. She recorded 11 shutouts, the second-most in Canadian women’s soccer history, and she is the only Canadian goalie to win a game against the U.S. Women’s National Team.

In the fall of 2000, Wright played for the World Indoor All-Star Team which competed against the U.S. in the Discovery Channel Indoor Tour. In 2001, she played for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the USL’s W-League, recording five shutouts in nine games and leading the team to the national final.

In 2002, Wright played in a Swedish Women’s League, elite Damallsvenska, for Alvik IK in Lulea, Sweden, where she was voted Footballer of the Year for Northern Sweden.

Wright played for the Washington Freedom of the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA), where she played in more than 45 league, exhibition and international games from 2003-2006. One of only 32 international players signed in the WUSA and one of only three international goalies to play in the WUSA, Wright was the team captain for the 2006 season, and she helped lead the Freedom to the 2003 WUSA championship.

Wright coached high school girls soccer in Canada from 1996-2000. Wright has also coached several local club teams since 2003, including the Calverton Soccer Club and the Freestate Soccer Club, with which she still works. Wright also coaches in the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association.

A native of Duncan, British Columbia, Wright graduated from the University of Victoria in 1997 with a Bachelor’s degree in physical education.

“I’m very excited about joining the UMBC program,” Wright said. “I’m excited about the upcoming season and very happy and proud to be a part of this program.”

In addition, Koleski announced that former UMBC standout Mary Hearin will join the coaching staff as a graduate assistant this season. A two-year team co-captain and four-year starter, Hearin anchored the Retrievers’ backline for three seasons before making the switch to midfield in 2006. She was a 2003 America East all-rookie team and all-conference second team member, and earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors twice.