July 15, 2008

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The University of San Diego head women's soccer coach Ada Greenwood has announced the hiring of Karen Bardsley as an assistant coach with the Torero coaching staff.

"We are very excited about the addition of Karen to our coaching staff. She brings a wealth of experience internationally and collegiately in the goalkeeper position," stated Greenwood. "Karen will help the program with all aspects for the future."

Bardsley comes to USD after serving as an volunteer assistant coach at her Alma Mater, Cal State Fullerton. While coaching at Fullerton, Bardsley helped guide the Titans to a 12-8-2 overall record and a third straight Big West Conference tournament championship and into the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Under her tutelage, Shayla Sabin was named the Big West Conference Tournament MVP.

During the summer of 2007, Bardsley played for the Ajax America team of the Woman's Premier Soccer League. In this season, Bardsley helped lead thhe team to the final four in the Open Cup Championship at the USASA National Cup finals in Seattle, Wash. For her efforts, she was named the West Coast Goalkeeper of the Year.

Bardsley was a standout on the Cal State Fullerton women's soccer team from 2002-2006. She left Fullerton as the career record holder in every major goalkeeping category, holding the records for victories (47), goals-against-average (0.84), saves (312) and minutes played (6,395). In her junior year of 2005, she set the single-season record for GAA (0.64), victories (16) and shutouts with 10 en route to leading the Titans to the Sweet-16 of the NCAA Tournament. She was named the Big West Conference's Goalkeeper of the Year for three consecutive seasons, the only player in the history of the conference to achieve this honor. During her outstanding collegiate career, Bardsley was a two-time All-West Region selection by the NSCAA and a three-time Soccerbuzz All-West Region selection.