The Western New York Flash is happy to announce that they have agreed to terms with US National Team midfielder Lori Lindsey, Spanish International Adriana, Goalkeeper Alli Lipsher, and Striker Stephanie Ochs for the 2012 WPSL Elite League Season.

Lindsey, 32, comes to the club after spending the 2010 and 2011 seasons with the Philadelphia Independence where she reached the WPS Championship game in both years, falling to FC Gold pride in '10 and to the Flash in '11.

The central midfielder, who is a current member of the US National Team, led the USA in assists in 2010 with seven and was named to the Women's World Cup Roster in 2011 and has 22 caps for her country. Additionally, Lindsey was called into WNT training camps in 2009 and 2010 and was in Residency Training Camp at The Home Depot Center in 2004 and 2006. A long-time member of the USA’s youth national team pool, she played for the U.S. U-16, U-17 and U-21 teams. She was also a member of the USA's U-21 2001 Nordic Cup champions in Norway.

In 2009, Lindsey played for the Washington Freedom in the inaugural season of the WPS in 2009 after being taken 17th overall by the Freedom in the WPS General Draft where she started in 18 of the 19 games scoring two goals and assisting on one other. In 2010, the Virginia native had a breakout year after being selected in the 2010 WPS Expansion Draft by the Philadelphia Independence. She started all 23 games she played for the Independence, helping the team to a playoff berth, two playoff wins and a berth into the championship game. She scored two goals with a team-leading eight assists (tied for second in the league), meaning she led her club and country in assists in 2010. She was named to the WPS Best XI and to the WPS All-Star Team. In 2011, Lindsey appeared in 9 matches for the Independence and helped lead them to consecutive WPS Championship game appearances.

"Lori is an experienced midfielder with good character and leadership qualities. She is a consistent player who is technically and tactically sound. She is a great addition to our squad and will definitely strengthen our midfield. Lori has a lot to prove still in her career, and I'm excited to bring in a player of her caliber to the Flash for the 2012 season," Head Coach Aaran Lines says.

Lindsey attended  the University of Virginia from 1998–2001 and was the school's first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, winning the award two consecutive years (2000 & 2001) joining Mia Hamm as the only other player to achieve that distinction. She finished sixth all-time scorer in UVA history with 33 goals and 76 points. Lindsey also was named a NSCAA Second-Team All-American in 2001 and Third-Team All-American in 2000. After such a successful collegiate career, Lindsey was the fourth overall pick in 2002 WUSA draft by San Diego Spirit where she played in 20 games, starting 13 and scored two goals and had five assists. Following the 2002 season, Lindsay was traded to the Freedom at the 2003 WUSA Draft and was a member of 2003 Founders Cup III Champions. After WUSA folded, she continued to play for the W-League Washington Freedom for several years. In 2007, the W-League Final Four was played in Rochester, NY with Flash player Alex Sahlen playing for the Rochester Rhinos in the semi-final match against the Lindsay's Freedom. The Washington squad would go on to defeat the Rhinos 3-0, and capture the W-League Championship against the Atlanta Silverbacks.

"Lori is a player that I have watched grow since 2007 when she played in the W-League Final Four. Lori has improved immensely these past 5 years, and has really benefited from the WPS as it helped her get back into the National Team frame. Lori will be looking to make it three championships in a row for the Flash after narrowly missing out on silverware with the Independence in 2010 and 11," Lines adds.

Spanish International Adriana made her debut in the WPS ironically against the Flash, scoring her first WPS goal in a 3-1 defeat to the Flash. She appeared in 15 games, starting 11 of the matches registering three goals and three assists.

“Adriana is a player that I discovered before we were officially in the WPS and who I met with while recruiting in Europe. She is a talented striker with a lot of potential and a nose for the goal. Unfortunately we weren’t able to bring her here to WNY last season, but I am looking forward to getting the chance to work with her and really get the best out of her,” Lines says.

Adriana, 25, is currently playing for Atlético Madrid and prior to joining Sky Blue FC played for FC Barcelona, CE Sabadell, RCD Espanyol and Rayo Vallecano in the Superliga. She has won three Spanish leagues and two national Cups. Aditionally Adriana was the league's top scorer in 2007 and 2010 and has played the Champions League with Espanyol and Rayo Vallecano, scoring 10 goals in 12 games. For the Spanish National Team, Adriana scored 16 goals in the qualification stage for the 2011 World Cup.

Between the pipes for the Flash will be Hawaiian native Alli Lipsher. Lipsher spent 2009 with the Boston Breakers, playing in 11 games and starting 10. Lipsher only allowed 6 goals in 11 matches for a .58 GAA and recorded 5 shutouts which was good enough for 4th best in the league. In 2010, Lipsher moved to the Atlanta Beat where she started 7 matches, making 44 saves and was named to the WPS Player of the week award twice in a row. A Duke University alum, she finished second for most shutouts at Duke and fourth in the ACC. She completed her collegiate career with a .87 GAA, best in Duke's history.

Rounding out the newest signings is young striker Stephanie Ochs from the University of San Diego. The 21 year old was drafted as the number 3 overall pick in the WPS 2012 Draft and recently competed for the US U-23 National Team in the Four Nations Tournament in Spain. Ochs played in 81 matches for her alma mater, scoring 25 goals and assisting on 31 others. She was named All-WCC her sophomore, junior and senior years and was named to the All WCC Freshman team. This past season, the California native was named WCC Player of the Year and garnered her second consecutive NSCAA All American Status. 

ABOUT THE WESTERN NEW YORK FLASH

The WNY Flash joined Women’s Professional Soccer as an expansion club in September of 2010, directly following the club’s decisive W-League Championship as the Buffalo Flash in July of 2010. The Flash play all WPS home games at the Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester NY, home to the Rochester Rhinos. The Flash train out of owner Joe Sahlen’s indoor soccer facility, Sahlen Sports Park, in Elma, NY. The Flash colors are Red, Yellow, and Black, to match the Sahlen entities: Sahlen Packing Co., Sahlen Sports Park, and Team Sahlen racing team. The WNY Flash posted a 13-2-3 record (42 points) in their inaugural campaign, taking first place and the Regular season Championship. On August 27, 2011 the Western New York Flash defeated the Philadelphia Independence to capture the WPS Championship title in front of a record crowd of over 10,000 fans at Sahlen’s Stadium. After the WPS suspended operations for the 2012 season, the Flash joined the WPSL Elite League along with the Boston Breakers. The Flash will open their season on Saturday, May 12, 2012 against FC Indiana at 7:00 PM.  For tickets, please call 585-454-KICK or for more information, please call 716-655-7529 and visit our website, www.wnyflash.com. Don't forget to like us on facebook and follow us on twitter @wnyflash for all the latest news!