FORMER VCU SOCCER STANDOUTS EARNING EXTRA TIME IN BRAZIL
Cooley and Maas will continue playing with FC Santos until the end of July

SANTOS, Brazil—Some student-athletes choose to continue competing after the completion of their college careers. Former Virginia Commonwealth University women’s soccer players Bridgit Cooley and Brittain Maas are doing exactly that—in Brazil. Cooley and Maas, who played their final seasons at VCU in the fall of 2007, are currently competing for the FC Santos women’s team, which is considered to be one of the premier programs in the world. Cooley and Maas joined the team in mid-June and will continue to live in Brazil and play for FC Santos until the end of July.

FC Santos became internationally recognized after winning the National League and the Paulista Championship in 2007. Several of FC Santos’ current players, including Erika, were part of Brazil’s U-20 South American championship team. FC Santos has also claimed Mercosul and International Cup titles in 2006 and the Brazil Soccer Cup in 2004. Kleiton Lima, Brazil’s current U-20 coach, heads up FC Santos. Lima previously worked as a scout for Carlos Alberto Parreira, the head coach of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup championship men’s team. FC Santos, which also operates a men’s team, is the same club that gave Brazilian soccer legends Pele and Robinhio once played for.

Maas and Cooley played in three CAA championship games with VCU, winning one. While with the Rams, Maas and Cooley played in two NCAA Tournaments. In 2004, they helped lead VCU to a 3-1 win over Clemson to give the Rams their first NCAA Tournament victory in school history. In 2007, the Rams finished 11-8-3 and advanced to the CAA Championship game. VCU, which returns nine starters from a year ago, will open the 2008 regular season Friday, August 29 at cross-town rival Richmond.