American stars grace W-League Central Coast Mariners side for 2009

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 05: Kyah Simon of Sydney and Lydia Vandenbergh of the Mariners in action during the round one W-League match between Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners at Sydney Football Stadium on October 5, 2009 in Sydney, Australia.  (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)


Mariners coach Stephen Roche has agreed to the loan deals of 25-year-old Chicago Red Stars attacker Lydia Vandenbergh and the St Louis Athletica duo of Jillian Loyden and Kendall Fletcher for the entire W-League season.
Loyden will be the Mariners? first choice goalkeeper with the 24-year-old having also been capped by the United States Youth National squad.
Fletcher meanwhile won herself a cap for the United States Senior side with the 24-year-old set to take her spot in the Mariners? midfield.
The trio will be on loan from their respective Womens Professional Soccer League side?s hoping to make a huge impact in the Australian women?s game.
The recruitment of these international stars has only further added the seriousness Roche has taken this season.
?We want to make the finals this season and with the current team we have, along with the three new American girls we?ve signed, we have huge intentions to do so.
?These girls come in high regard from their respective clubs and they?ve already shown how useful they will be for the team at training sessions.
?They?ve already raised the bar at training and I know they?ll be a hit when the W-League competition commences.?
The Central Coast Mariners? first W-League clash will be against rivals Sydney FC on Monday October 5 at Sydney Football Stadium with kick-off set for 12.15pm.

-By Mark Stavroulakis