Portland, Ore. (April 16, 2009)

The Portland Rain sign former University of Portland standout M/F Natalie Budge to the 2009 squad, rounding out the initial roster for the team's inaugural season.

Budge played four years at the University of Portland, finishing her career with 31 goals and 26 assists for a total of 88 points. On the Pilots all-time leaders list, Budge ranks 10^th in points, 9^th in goals and 13^th in assists. In 2006, she was a member of the U.S. Under-21 National Team where she competed internationally, and she's currently coming off a year of playing professionally in Germany.

"Natalie has played at the highest levels in her career, and we're glad to have a player of her caliber to help bring this team to the success it's looking for," said Rain interim coach Stan Rodrigues. "She's a local kid who has gone through the ranks in her playing career and is a great role model for youth players in this area, and she has the ability to make a great impact on this team and on the league itself."

Budge hails from Tualatin High School, where she was an All-State selection in each of her four years (First Team selection in 2001 and 2003, Second team in 2000 and 2002). She finished her high school career with an impressive count of over 70 goals and 50 assists.

Budge rounds out a 2009 roster that includes a number of standout players who have committed to bringing competitive women's soccer to the spotlight in the Portland area. Some key players to sign with the Rain include former Washington State star Nicole Wilcox; 2005 SEC Player of the Year at the University of Georgia Allison Williams; former Oregon class 4A Player of the Year Melissa Beal; and current Cameroon National Team member Ngum Suh.

Portland, Ore. (April 6, 2009)

The Portland Rain announce the 2009 initial roster, which is compiled of 27 talents from Oregon to Ohio to start the 2009 inaugural season which kicks off May 3rd vs. Seattle Synergy at Hillsboro Stadium. The roster will be a rolling roster through April and May and will be finalized on June 10th in conjunction with NCAA eligibility regulations.

The 2009 Portland Rain includes a number of standout players who have committed to bringing competitive women's soccer to the spotlight in the Portland area. Some key players to sign with the Rain include M/F Allison Williams, who was the 2005 SEC Player of the Year at the University of Georgia; former Oregon class 4A Player of the Year Melissa Beal; and current Cameroon National Team member Ngum Suh.

The Rain also signed twins Jackie and Justine Pronovost, both All-America selections at Concordia University. Jackie Pronovost was named 2008 NAIA Player of the Year. The full roster can be seen at http://www.portlandrainfc.com/roster.htm.

"I'm extremely pleased with the roster we have put together and the great talent that we had to choose from," said interim coach Stan Rodrigues. "We have a number of decorated players who came out of strong college programs from all over the country, and I believe this team will gel very well. We will have to work extremely hard to get to the level that the organization wants to be at, but with the group we have here, I think we can definitely head in the right direction."

The Rain signed F/M Nicole Wilcox on Friday. Wilcox was the first player to sign with the Rain during its inaugural season. Wilcox, 26, played at Iowa State for two years before transferring to Washington State in 2002. At Iowa State, Wilcox was Second Team All-Big 12 after leading the team in scoring as a freshman and as a sophomore, starting all 36 matches in those two years. As a junior at Washington State in 2002, Wilcox led the team in goals (8), assists (8), points (24), shots (55) and shots on goal (26) and as a senior, she again led the team in goals (5), assists (2) and points (12). She was also a Second Team All-Pac 10 selection and a Pac-10 Medal Winner in 2003 and 2004 for Washington State.

Portland, Ore. (April 3, 2009)

The Portland Rain signed F/M Nicole Wilcox today; the first player signed for the inaugural 2009 season.

"I'm extremely excited to be a part of this team, and especially excited about the addition of a more competitive women's team to Portland," Wilcox said. "It will be great for young, aspiring soccer players to get to watch a competitive women's team right in their backyard."

Wilcox, 26, played at Iowa State for two years before transferring to Washington State in 2002. At Iowa State, Wilcox was Second Team All-Big 12 after leading the team in scoring as a freshman and as a sophomore, starting all 36 matches in those two years.

As a junior at Washington State in 2002, Wilcox led the team in goals (8), assists (8), points (24), shots (55) and shots on goal (26). As a senior, she again led the team in goals (5), assists (2) and points (12). She was a Second Team All-Pac 10 selection and was a Pac-10 Medal Winner in 2003 and 2004. Wilcox currently ranks in the top 10 at Washington State in single game assists (first, 3), assists in a season (first, 8), points in a season (10th , 24), career goals (seventh, 13) and career points (seventh, 36).

"Nicole is a great example of what we look for in a player," said interim coach Stan Rodrigues. "She has great skills, she's tenacious and she's a great leader. Her experience and hard-working, never-quit attitude will have a great positive affect on the entire team and it's what we need to get this team off the ground."

Wilcox attended the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) combine in December. She also worked as an assistant women's soccer coach at the University of Oregon and also serves as a Region IV Olympic Development Program coach.

"In the first season, I think it is key to establish the program and a fan base," Wilcox said. "We have to settle in as a team and an organization here in Portland so that we can continue to be successful, and I know we will be up to the challenge."

The rest of the 2009 roster will be announced on Monday.

Portland, Ore. (March 16, 2009)

The Portland Rain women’s soccer team will hold its second open tryout session this Saturday, March 21st from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Stott Recreation Field at Portland State University. Tryouts are open to players 16 and older who are eligible in accordance with all NCAA regulations.

Saturday’s tryouts will be the second of three open tryout dates, with the final date coming a week later on March 28th. The first tryout in late January drew a wealth of local talent and provided a great starting point in forming the roster for the Rain 2009 inaugural season.

“I am expecting plenty of quality players, just like the first tryout session,” said interim coach Stan Rodrigues. “It’s going to be competitive, and we want the girls who have the passion required to make this team a success and who will be committed to excellence on and off the field. Tryouts are the first step to finding those players, so we’re very excited to continue the process.”

The first game of the inaugural season is a friendly set for Sunday, May 3rd at Hillsboro Stadium. The full 2009 schedule for the Rain will be released later this week.

Portland, Ore. (February 23, 2009)

The Portland Rain have announced Hillsboro Stadium as the home venue for all home games in the inaugural 2009 season. The Rain organization worked in conjunction with the City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation department to confirm the 7,000-seat stadium as the home of the Rain.

Portland will play at least 10 home games in 2009, including four friendly matches with opponents from around the Pacific Northwest as the Rain tunes up for the WPSL regular season, which is set to begin the last weekend in May.

“Hillsboro Stadium is a wonderful facility and a great fit for us,” said interim coach Stan Rodrigues. “It’s easy to get to, and it’s a very community-oriented venue, which fits perfectly with what we’re about at the Rain. People will be entertained by quality of play we’re going to have, and it will be a great activity to come out with the family and enjoy a great evening of soccer at a great soccer facility.”

Hillsboro Stadium features a 170,000 square foot Astroturf field that has played host to a number of sports including baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer and more. The stadium also features seating for 7,000 spectators, covered seats and full concession stands.

“The City of Hillsboro is delighted that Hillsboro Stadium will be the home field of the exciting new Portland Rain women’s soccer team,” said Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Community Resources Manager Corinne Bloomfield. “The WPSL level of play brings a high quality sports experience to families and soccer enthusiasts in the Hillsboro/Portland area.”

The WPSL is set to release its full schedule in early March.

Portland, Ore. (February 2, 2009)

The Portland Rain women’s soccer team held its first round of open tryouts this past weekend and welcomed a number of local players as the organization took its first steps toward building the team for the 2009 inaugural season.

Players ranging from ages 17 to 29 came out to the Stott Recreation Field at Portland State University on Saturday to compete for an invite to the final tryout in May, and eventually for one of the 25 roster spots for 2009.

University of Oregon assistant coach Nicole Wilcox, Tigard High School standout Kasey Kanada and NAIA All-American twins Jackie and Justine Pronovost were among the wealth of talent on display on Saturday. The tryouts also included graduates of Gonzaga, University of Oregon, Concordia, Linfield, Southern Oregon, Lewis & Clark and more.

“I thought it went extremely well on Saturday,” said interim coach Stan Rodrigues. “The quality of play was very high, and throughout the tryout you could sense the intensity and excitement that these players have, given the chance to play at a higher level in front of their hometown crowd.”

“In March I expect it to be even more competitive,” Rodrigues added. “It’ll be difficult to make cuts do to the amount of talent in this area, but we will be able to form an extremely strong team because of the pool of talented players coming out for the team.”

The final two open tryout dates are set for March 21st and March 28th, both at Stott Recreation Field at Portland State from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Portland, Ore. - (January 27, 2009)

The Portland Rain Women’s Soccer Team will hold its first open tryouts for the 2009 inaugural season this Saturday, January 31, 2009, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stott Community Recreation Field at Portland State University.  

Tryouts are open to any players 16 and older who are eligible to tryout at this time according to NCAA regulations.

The tryout session is the first of three first-round tryouts, with the other two dates set for March 21st and March 28th. All three tryout sessions will be held at the same time and place. There will be a final invitation-only tryout at a later date to set the final roster of approximately 25 players for the 2009 season.

“We are looking for those players who want to win and have a desire to do what it takes to make that happen,” said interim head coach Stan Rodrigues. “I am looking forward to forming a team of passionate, hard-working players that have a creative and entertaining flair that will resemble the exciting city of Portland and lead us to success.”

The Portland Rain launches its inaugural season in the Women’s Premier Soccer League in May 2009, joining the Pacific North conference. The WPSL is a national league comprised of 54 teams across the country.

Portland, Ore. - (January 6, 2009)

The Portland Rain Women’s Soccer Team will hold its first press conference on Wednesday, January 14, 2009, at 12:30 PM. The conference announcing the launch of the team will take place in Room 294 of the Smith Memorial Building, located at 1825 SW Broadway on the Portland State University campus. The Portland Rain is the newest addition to the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL), and its inaugural season begins in May 2009.

The popularity of women’s soccer in the Portland area continues to grow, and the Portland Rain organization is looking to maintain and build on that development with a fresh team that is looking to entertain and compete on the field and be a community player off the field.

The Rain is seeking the best talent from the Portland area as well as from around the country and internationally in order to produce the most successful team possible; one that promises to provide the highest level of competition and entertainment. The organization’s goal is to focus on development and entering the Women’s Professional Soccer league by the 2011 or 2012 season.