Coaches
We believe a crucial component that makes girlsCAN unique is the opportunity for girls to work with female players who have reached the top levels of the game. Because of this, we are at the cutting edge of the women’s soccer, and are passionate about inspiring the next generation of girls to dream big.
We also believe in the importance of using soccer as a platform to teach the girls crucial life values, such as respect, teamwork, perseverance and appreciation; values that we believe played a crucial role in our coaching staff reaching the top of our sport.
Our goal is to contribute to each of our players reaching her potential on and off the field and provide good role models to every girl that is a part of our program.
Tiffany Weimer (North Haven, CT): Tiffany starred at North Haven HS before heading to Penn State, where she led the Nittany Lions to the Final 4 in 2002 and 2005. Tiffany scored 91 goals in her 4 years at Penn State, good for 9th all time in NCAA history, and was the runner up for the Hermann Trophy (best college soccer player) in 2004 and 2005. She represented the US numerous times at the U23 level, and also attended full US Women’s National team camps. She played in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) for the FC Gold Pride (2008) and Boston Breakers (2009), and has played professionally in Sweden (AIK Stockholm), Finland (Aland United), Brazil (Santos FC), and Canada (Vancouver Whitecaps). Tiffany is currently playing in Denmark for Fortuna Hjorring for 2012.
Tiffany also founded and is the editor for one of the world’s largest women’s soccer magazine’s and website “Our Game Magazine” (www.ourgamemagazine.com)
Manya Makoski (Trumbull, CT): Manya had an impressive career at Trumbull HS before embarking on four years at Arizona State University, where she was one of the top players in the PAC 10 between 2002-2005. In this time, Manya also was a part of US Soccer history, when she won the first ever youth World Cup, at the U19 level in 2002 in Canada. Manya went on play professionally for two years in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), playing with the Los Angeles Sol in 2009 and the Atlanta Beat in 2010. Manya played for Thor/KA of the Icelandic League in 2011, competing in the Champions League against fellow girlsCAN Coach Alyssa Naeher, who played for Turbine Potsdam of Germany. Manya is signed with Aland United of the Finnish Naisten Liiga.
Manya is also an accomplished writer, blogging for US Soccer, and the Connecticut Post as well as for Our Game Magazine. She is also passionate about fitness and will be leading our girlsCAN programs in this domain.
Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, CT). Alyssa starred at Christian Heritage HS, before heading to Penn State where she starred for the Nittany Lions as a 3 time All-American. While at Penn State, Alyssa in 2008 won the U20 World Cup with the US, and with her fine performance in goal, was named the recipient of the Golden Glove Award for the top keeper in the World Cup. Alyssa was the highest pick in the history of the WPS when she was selected in the first round for the Boston Breakers in 2010 and has dominated in the WPS, starting in her first 2 seasons for Boston. She currently is in the pool for the full US Women’s National Team and travelled to Portugal in 2011 with the US Team for the Algarve Cup. Alyssa is signed with Turbine Potsdam of the German Bundesliga for 2012.
Kelsey Hood(Ankeny, IA) Midwest native, Kelsey Hood had a successful club career for Ankeny Premier Club before heading North to the University of Minnesota. She helped lead the Golden Gophers from the bottom of the Big Ten, to a Big Ten championship and Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA College Cup. Kelsey earned the Big 10 Defensive player of the Year award, along with 2nd team All-American honors in 2008. Following college, Kelsey played professionally in Norway with FK Donn of the Toppserien and with the Vancouver Whitecaps, playing with fellow girlsCAN Football member Ciara McCormack in both stops. Kelsey is currently playing for the New England Mutiny of the WPSL Elite for 2012.
Kelly Boudreau (Farmington, CT) Kelly Boudreau was a four-year starter at Farmington High School where she led her team to a 64-5 record and a Class L State Championship. From high school, Boudreau went on to Fairfield University where she earned her spot in the record books as the all-time leader in shutouts with 25, along with a career goals against average of .0967, the lowest in school history. In addition, Boudreau was named to the Dean’s List three out of her last four semesters at school. She is currently the graduate assistant at Fairfield, studying Finance.