Sports Then and Now

FC Gold Pride and Tiffeny Milbrett are poised for success in 2010

At the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, Tiffeny Milbrett held a field demonstration session on Thursday, January 14, 2010.  We got there about 15 minutes after it started, but still got the gist of what was going on and enjoyed watching it.  Afterwards, we went up, introduced ourselves and got to talk to Tiffeny for a little while about her thoughts on the WPS draft, the upcoming season and the acquisition of LA Sol midfielder, Camille Abily.

Lauren Green (LG): What are your thoughts on tomorrow’s WPS draft?

Tiffeny Milbrett (TM): I think it’s going to be the best class ever for any WPS draft, (laughs), it’s the second year.  But no I think, I don’t know absolutely all the players because I don’t get to this part of the states, that part of the states to be able to see all of the players that are coming out.

But of course you know the top four or five players that will probably be taken right off the bat. And it’s just exciting I think, you know when the WUSA went away, it’s just, it was such a sad moment, not for the current players, but for those players coming up, coming through college.  You know, their dreams were wiped out of becoming pro and just tomorrow again, symbolizes the chance for these players to have a place to play as a professional soccer player. And that is just phenomenal to me.

LG: Is there anyone in particular that you would enjoy getting to play with if they were to be drafted by FC Gold Pride? I know they have a high pick in the third overall pick, but is there anyone in particular that you would be extremely excited to be playing with?

TM: You know I have to say no, only in the sense that you know, there’s obviously been some players I have played with, that is even in the draft.  But I think the thing is, is that I’m excited for whoever our team picks because that’s my team.  So I’m excited for them even if that’s a general answer, really, ‘cause our job now is to embrace those players coming in that our team, that FC Gold Pride has chosen, and get them to be the best that they can be.  So I think that to me is more exciting than any one particular player to play with, is that we’re bringing in players now to build a championship team.

LG: I know that you guys finished towards the bottom half of the league last year.  What do you think you guys can do to improve upon that finish in this upcoming season?

TM: Well, we finished last, last season. But what was really nice about the end of our season is that we started to play together. We started to come together as a team.  And I think it just left us feeling excited about this season coming up, because of course when you finish last there’s no where else to go but up.

But it doesn’t have anything to do with it, again it has to do with specifically what we were putting together towards the end of last season. And I think we can truly build on that with the moves we’ve made, with the draft choices coming up, with the players that are returning and really truly be a championship team contender.

LG: what can you say about the addition of WPS all-star Camille Abilly from LA in the trade with Tina DiMartino?

TM: I just think it’s phenomenal.  I think anytime that you can add an international player, a WPS all-star to the team—somebody who was a proven playmaker, goal scorer for the LA Sol last year, how can you not be anything but excited about it?  I think she’s going to be a phenomenal quality player.  We need a player like her, and I think she’s just gonna fit in really well and quite nicely.  I’m excited to get out there with her.

Special thanks to Tiffeny Milbrett for taking the time to sit down and talk to me for a little bit on 1/14/10!