Women's Team

Growing up, Micaela Hornstein didn’t have a competitive soccer leagues to drive her interest in the sport.

Following in the footsteps of her older brother and sister to play the sport in Indiana, she joined Carmel United as a 14-year-old and endured a two-hour round trip commute to pursue playing at the higher level.

Now, playing for FC Tucson, she enjoys being part of a team that provides that model to follow that she didn’t have.

“We have a lot of support from the community,” Hornstein said. “Giving the younger girls and boys the opportunity to watch our games and to be a positive role model for them is huge and such a big opportunity.”

The Indianapolis native played NCAA Division I soccer at Morehead State University in Kentucky. She was a starter all four years, helping the team to two Ohio Valley Conference regular season and conference tournament championships.

Following her undergraduate career, she moved back to the Indianapolis area to attend the University of Indianapolis, where she earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She was the assistant coach for the women’s soccer team while studying for her doctorate.

Hornstein moved to Arizona after her schooling and continued playing soccer recreationally in town with co-ed and women’s teams. She met Kelly Pierce, FC Tucson’s head coach, who encouraged her to tryout.

“I wanted to try something new and move west,” said Hornstein. “Arizona was a good combination of the outdoors lifestyle, the sun, and the cost of living was doable. Once I got here, I found a great soccer community.”

Hornstein owns a private concierge physical therapy business. She specializes in the neuromuscular system, helping clients regain their independence and get readjusted at home after suffering from strokes, brain injuries or spinal cord injuries.

She featured in a pair of games last season while simultaneously training for an ultramarathon.

This season, Hornstein aims to help the club win the Desert Conference again and return to the WPSL playoffs.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back together and pushing each other to be our best,” Hornstein said. “Working together as a unit each day, at each practice, each game and cultivating a positive community together really be our best is the most important thing.”

Building a championship winning team is hard work on and off the field, and no one knows that more than Paloma Paez.

The Nogales native was the Equipment Manager for the FC Tucson men’s and women’s team, and the Assistant Team Admin for the women’s team during her time with the club. After being part of the Women’s Premier Soccer League Desert Conference championship team in Tucson last summer, she went to Houston to be the Houston Dynamo Academy equipment manager before being promoted to equipment manager for the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the top professional league for women’s soccer in the world.

“I was very excited to be working with national team and high-profile players,” said Paez. “It’s been great learning new things that I’ve never done before.”

As the equipment manager, Paez deals with all the equipment that is used on the field in trainings, pressing all training gear and jerseys, and packing all the bags for the team’s away matches.

Paez also sets up the training field before practice. Current U.S. Women’s National Team Assistant Coach Twila Kilgore helped Paez learn the ropes of setting up each drill in the most efficient way that is also beneficial to everyone on the field.

Getting into sports is something that Paez has been passionate about since watching the USWNT win the FIFA World Cup in 2019. During that time, she was a student at the University of Arizona and added Sports Management as her major and joined the Sports Marketing Association. This is where she met FC Tucson co-founder Jon Pearlman.

“Jon Pearlman was the first speaker. I talked to him and said I wanted to get into sports, specifically women’s sports, and if there was an opportunity with FC Tucson I would do anything,” said Paez. “A week later I had an interview with him, got an internship and was with the team for two years, giving everything I had, and now I’m here.”

Working in women’s sports has been a goal for Paez and the growth seen over the past year has her excited for the future.

“Women’s sports is worth watching, women’s sports is worth investing in, and I think it’s going to skyrocket into something unbelievable.”

Last year, Paez was recognized by the WPSL for the All-Region Personnel for the West Region.

Whether they are designing eye-catching graphics 🎨, shooting or streaming games 🎥, live tweeting or creating IG Stories 📱, or updating their team websites 💻, each of these individuals are worthy of #BestofWPSL ⚽ honors for the West Region!#WPSL #HerGame #sportsbiz pic.twitter.com/Zwfd4qjQPL

— Women’s Premier Soccer League (@WPSL) August 31, 2021

TUCSON, Ariz. – The defending Women’s Premier Soccer League Desert Conference champions will have a familiar look when they take the field next week for their season opener.

FC Tucson and Dean Alan Architects PLLC announced Tuesday that Tucson’s only full-service, women-owned architecture firm has returned as the front of the jersey sponsor for the club’s women’s team.

“We are proud to continue our championship combination,” said Angela Gee, the principal and founder of Dean Alan Architects. “Led by Club President Amanda Powers and Head Coach Kelly Pierce, FC Tucson has set the standard in the WPSL and have built a program that is one of the best in the country. Dean Alan is thrilled to be front and center in supporting and celebrating successful women.”

Dean Alan, which exemplifies FC Tucson’s motto of #shestartsintucson, signed on as the primary sponsor last year as the club went 7-0-1 en route to the conference championship.

“Angela Gee and her firm has made an amazing impact in Tucson and their commitment to excellence is a perfect fit with FC Tucson,” said FC Tucson President Amanda Powers. “As a Tucson native, Angela cares greatly about our community and we owe our success to the contributions from people like her.”

Athletic Brewing, FC Tucson’s Exclusive Non-Alcoholic Beer Partner, returns as the right sleeve sponsor, while FC Tucson Official Sponsor CARF International will be the back of the jersey sponsor for both the home and away jersey for the women’s team.

The FC Tucson women play in the pre-professional WPSL, with a roster made up of youth, college, and adult players. Pierce, a Tucson native, has won four 4A state championships as head coach at her alma mater, Salpointe Catholic High School. She was recently named Arizona Republic’s All-Arizona Coach of the Year across all classes.

FC Tucson’s first match is May 28 at the El Paso Surf. The first home game is Friday, June 3, against El Paso at Kino North Stadium (buy tickets). The season’s eight-game regular season will be completed by July 9, followed by the playoffs.

In addition to being defending champions, FC Tucson is unbeaten in its last 12 matches (10-0-2) dating back to June of 2019. The 2020 season was cancelled and the 2021 season did not have a postseason. FC Tucson reached the postseason in 2013 and 2018, just missing out in 2015 and 2019 on tiebreakers.

As Kelly Pierce looked over the Kino North field Sunday morning, it was hard not to like what she saw.

The head coach of the defending Women’s Premier Soccer League Desert Conference champions is tasked with refilling the roster to chase another title. With the season opener looming at the end of the month, FC Tucson held an open trial to provide an opportunity for talented players across Arizona – and beyond – to join the legacy the club has built over the years.

As Pierce and her coaching staff looked on, more than 40 players took part in the two-hour session.

“We have a lot of returning faces, which is always good for us, but a lot of new faces,” said Pierce. “Having all these new girls come in – from Flagstaff, Phoenix and all over Tucson – it’s good to have new faces out here. It’s growing, which is always a positive.”

Thanks to sponsorship from All Sports Tucson, the entry fee was waived for all participants. The players received a trial shirt as well as a ticket to an FC Tucson women’s home game this season for attending.

There were a number of returning players as well who took part in the trials, which allowed new players to measure themselves and gave Pierce an opportunity to see all the players together. Among those on the field were sisters Laura and Priscilla Pimienta, who were All-WSPL Desert Conference all-stars last season.

The trials are just the first step. Next comes practice, which begins Tuesday, and the process of integrating the new players Pierce selects with the veterans. Laura Pimienta, who has previous experience as captain, talked about how important the next step is.

“Every year at trials, and even the first few practices, you’re getting to know each other,” said Laura Pimienta. “It’s a little chaotic and not as clean as you want it to look. We have our goal in mind and where we’re trying to get and as long as the leaders are pushing that out and getting everyone on board, at the end of the day, we’ll be successful.”

FC Tucson’s first match is May 28 at the El Paso Surf. The first home game is Friday, June 3, against El Paso at Kino North Stadium (buy tickets). The season’s eight games will be completed by July 9.

In addition to being defending champions, FC Tucson is unbeaten in its last 12 matches (10-0-2) dating back to June of 2019. The 2020 season was cancelled and the 2021 season did not have a postseason. FC Tucson reached the postseason in 2013 and 2018, just missing out in 2015 and 2019 on tiebreakers.

Having the consistent level of success as well as the commitment by FC Tucson to the women’s team, Pierce noted, is what produces such a great turnout like Sunday.

“It always sets the bar high, and the tone,” said Pierce. “It sets such a good environment for these younger girls.

“It goes to this entire program. The way everything is run here is so professional; that makes people want to come back and bring a friend or two.”

An undefeated season that leads to a championship in your first season is no easy feat.

Haley Harris accomplished just that in Tucson. But she’s not done there.

The Tucson native returns for her second season with FC Tucson, looking to build off of the success of the first and reach higher heights with the Women’s Premier Soccer League national championship in the offing.

“It’s such a great environment and it really helps our training and our ability to do well,” said Harris. “It was a super exciting year, and I’m looking forward to getting back to it this summer.”

Harris is a sophomore studying Global Security and Intelligence at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott. She was named United Soccer Coaches’ All-American Second Team after helping the Eagles qualified for the NAIA national tournament this past season.

She was also selected for the CoSIDA’s District 4 Academic All-District team with a 4.0 grade point average. Harris was the 2021 Cal Pac Freshman of the Year in her first season with the team.

Harris scored first career game-winning goal in 73rd minute in 1-0 over UC Merced on October 15.

Women’s Soccer: Embry-Riddle Blanks UC Merced, 1-0
– https://t.co/799mFT597b pic.twitter.com/xfIepulp5f

— Embry-Riddle Eagles (@erau_eagles) October 17, 2021

Harris started playing club soccer when she was 5 with Vail Soccer Club.

“I remember always being out there and eating the orange slices and talking with my friends,” Harris said. “It’s that early love of the game and the people you’re around that show how fun soccer is.”

Harris moved to the FC Tucson Youth club team in high school. She devoted time and energy into the sport and her schooling so she would be able to get a good education while also playing soccer.

FC Tucson assistant coach Charlie MacCabe – then head coach of Harris’s FC Tucson Youth club team – frequently had his players train with the club. FC Tucson Head Coach Kelly Pierce was impressed with Harris’s abilities and brought Harris out to trials, where she was selected to the team.

Harris scored one goal and two assists playing out of the midfield during the 2021 season.

“We have good chemistry and it played a big part of how we performed,” said Harris. “It’s a great program to support, a fun game to watch, and I think we can have a really good season especially coming off of the conference win last year.”

If FC Tucson’s hopes of a second straight Woman’s Premier Soccer League Desert Conference championship rests on its defense, it’s in good hands.

Hope Hisey, who secured three shutouts and allowed just five goals over her six games, is back in goal for FC Tucson.

The Tucson native earned the 2021 WPSL Desert Region Goalkeeper of the Year.

More 🥇s@WPSL Desert Conference Goalkeeper of the Year.@hopehisey31 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/Z1Q3gcyPQH

— FC Tucson Women (@fctucsonwomen) August 31, 2021

“Once you’re the champions, everyone comes for you and gives you their best,” said Hisey. “(Head coach) Kelly (Pierce) and (assistant coach) Charlie (MacCabe) work extremely well together and have personal and professional relationships with the players, so I think this season the sky is the limit.”

Hisey and FC Tucson will have more goals to shoot for as postseason returns for the WPSL. The winner of the each Western Conference’s four regions will meet in the regional semifinal and finals, with the winners of the WPSL’s four regions playing for the national championship.

Hisey plays collegiate soccer at the University of Arizona and is entering her senior year. She has a COVID year of eligibility and plans play for a fifth year with the team while studying for her master’s degree.

She is sixth all-time at Arizona in career saves (228) and third in career Goals Against Average (1.04). She led the Pac 12 with 102 saves last year – 20 more than any other goalie.

Hisey started playing when she was eight years old when she joined the FC Tucson Youth Soccer Club – then known as Tucson Soccer Academy. She started off as an outfield player before gravitating towards the goalkeeper position.

“For me, it was something that I was naturally good at,” Hisey said. “It can be a very mentally taking position, but having the mental strength and fortitude combined with the work ethic really makes the best goalkeepers.”

Prior to going to Arizona, Hisey was a second-team All-State honoree at Canyon Del Oro. She first encountered FC Tucson during the summer when her club team would train with the team. She tried out and made the team for its 2018 season, and has been a part of the roster since then.

27′ – Let’s get another look at this magnificent play by @hopehisey31 👀

📺 – Pac-12 Networks pic.twitter.com/GZeGP5KRRe

— Arizona Soccer (@ArizonaSoccer) November 6, 2021

The defending WPSL Desert Conference champion FC Tucson will begin its ninth season in 2022 by hosting its annual open tryout for interested players.

The club will host the trial on Sunday, May 15, from 9-11 a.m. at Kino North Grandstand.

FC Tucson enters its third year under head coach Kelly Pierce, who recently guided Salpointe Catholic High School to its fourth 4A state championship in her five years at the school where she won two state titles as a player. FC Tucson is unbeaten in its last 12 matches (10-0-2) dating back to June of 2019.

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The trials are free for participants, and they will receive a FC Tucson t-shirt and a ticket to an FC Tucson Women’s game.

FC Tucson is coming off the heels of its undefeated championship winning season, and looks to discover local youth, college and adult talent to kick-off its 2022 season.

Coming off an undefeated championship season, FC Tucson is primed to continued is success when the Women’s Premier Soccer League season officially kicks off in May.

FC Tucson’s eight-game WPSL regular season will run through July. The club will host four matches at Kino North throughout the season, with tickets going on sale starting at $10.

FC Tucson will host its home opener on Friday, June 3, at Kino North Stadium against El Paso Surf. (BUY TICKETS)

The club has two back-to-back home games on Sunday, June 19 against SC del Sol (BUY TICKETS) and Friday, June 24 against Atomic City FC. (BUY TICKETS)

It will finish out’s home slate on Friday, July 1 against newcomers Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club. (BUY TICKETS)

RELATED: Full Schedule

FC Tucson will feature in the Desert Conference against three other returning teams and newcomer Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club. The winner of the Desert Conference will advance to the West Region semifinals; the winners of the four regions will play for the national championship.

Season Ticket packages are available for purchase for as low as $40 for adults and $20 for those 12 and under. Call 520-600-3095 to buy yours today.

She starts in Tucson isn’t just a slogan for FC Tucson as standout midfielder Trinity Morales makes an advancement in her playing career.

Morales announced Wednesday her commitment to playing for University of Oregon beginning in the fall semester.

The Salpointe Catholic senior was a standout player for the team, leading it to two consecutive 4A State Championship titles. She earned 4A Player of the Year and All-Conference first team honors. She was also named 4A Offensive Player of the Year in 2021.

“Trinity is the type of player a coach always hopes for,” said Salpointe and FC Tucson Head Coach Kelly Pierce. “She’s the ideal leader, has a great work ethic, good attitude and is good to her teammates.”

Morales also featured for club side SC del Sol where she was previously under a Designated Academy contract from 2018 to ’20. She also attended the U-19 U.S. Virtual National Camp in 2021.

Morales played with the FC Tucson women’s team last summer under Head Coach Kelly Pierce, who is also Salpointe’s head coach.

“She is so motivated and driven in all things she does,” said Pierce. “I’m very excited to follow her journey at Oregon.”

Coming off an undefeated championship season, FC Tucson will look to continue that success when the 2022 season officially kicks off in May.

FC Tucson will open the 2022 WPSL season in Texas against El Paso Surf on Saturday, May 28. The club will have its home opener on Friday, June 3 against El Paso Surf.

WPSL released the complete schedule for the 2022 regular season on Friday, and FC Tucson Women’s eight-game regular season will run through July.

WPSL is bringing back 120 members and 29 expansion teams for the 2022 season. With realignment, FC Tucson will remain in the Desert Conference with three other returning teams and welcome Phoenix-based Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club. The winner of the Desert Conference will advance to the West Region semifinals; the winners of the four regions will play for the national championship.

THE WPSL UNVEILS ITS 2022 ROSTER OF TEAMS AND ALIGNMENT

FC Tucson won the Desert Conference last year and is unbeaten in its last 13 matches, going 11-0-2 since losing to Albuquerque FC in 2019.

The club has finished first in its division five times since its inception in 2013, advancing to the playoffs in 2013 and ’18 while missing out due to a tiebreaker in 2015 and ’19.

The season was cancelled in 2020, and WPSL did not hold a postseason in 2021 due to COVID-19.

More information regarding season tickets and single-game tickets will be announced in the coming weeks.