May 31, 2012

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's women's soccer team has named former U.S. National Team member Christie Welsh as assistant coach, Hawks' head coach Jess Reynolds announced on Thursday.

One of the top players in both Penn State and Big Ten history, Welsh was the first player in Nittany Lion history to earn NSCAA All-America honors all four years. Playing for Penn State from 1999-02, Welsh led her squad to four-straight Big Ten titles and two Final Four appearances. The first player in conference history to be named Big Ten Player of the Year three consecutive seasons, she was recognized as the top collegiate player as she won both the Hermann Trophy and M.A.C. Player of the Year honors. On the field, Welsh set the Big Ten's record for goals (82), assists (52) and points (216), with her career points mark still standing.

A member of the U.S. National Team from 2000 until 2008, Welsh tallied 20 goals over 39 international contests. An alternate for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she was part of the 2004, 2006, and 2007 Olympic and World Cup training residencies. In 2005, Welsh helped the U.S. National Team capture the Algarve Cup, tallying a team-best five goals, including the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Germany in the finals.

Following her collegiate career, Welsh was drafted second overall in the 2003 WUSA Draft by the New York Power. Leading her team in scoring, Welsh would go on to play internationally for KIF Orebro of Sweden's First Division in 2004 and Olympique Lyonnaise of the French First Division in 2005. Additionally, she helped the Washington Freedom to the 2005 W-League championship, and the NJ Wildcats to the 2007 title, garnering MVP honors along the way. Recently, she has played in the Women's Professional Soccer League, competing for both the LA Sol and St. Louis Athletica in 2009 and the Washington Freedom in 2010.

A native of Massapequa, N.Y., Welsh led Massapequa High School to the 1997 New York State Championship and earned Parade All-American honors twice. The 1998 Gatorade Circle of Champions National High School Girls' Soccer Player of the Year, she was named an NSCAA All-American as a senior.

Welsh previously served as a volunteer assistant coach for Penn State from 2004-06, and worked as a volunteer assistant at Wisconsin last year. Currently, she is head coach of the U16 FC Bucks Revolution club team, taking over as the director last July.

Welsh joins a Saint Joseph's team that went 7-7-5 last season and finished ninth in the Atlantic 10.