Eclipse Select Alumni: Buczkowski re-signs with Independence

Eclipse Select Communications

CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and former Notre Dame midfielder Jen Buczkowski (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Elk Grove) re-signed with Women's Professional Soccer's Philadelphia Independence, the team announced Friday. Buczkowski was named to the 2011 WPS Best XI and was named the team's 2011 Ironwoman after logging every minute of the 18-game regular season last year.

"I'm so thankful and happy to have re-signed with Philly," Buczkowski said in a team release. "[Owner] David Halstead and Coach [Paul] Riley have established an organization built on the right principles, and being a member of the Independence is something I take great pride in."

Read more at EclipseSelect.org.

Catching up with Eclipse Select alumna Jen Buczkowski

By Charlie Corr
Eclipse Select staff

Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and former Notre Dame midfielder Jen Buczkowski is coming off a successful third season within Women's Professional Soccer.

The 26-year-old Elk Grove, Ill., native was named to the 2011 WPS Best XI as voted by select media, and her Philadelphia Independence advanced to the WPS title match, eventually falling to the champion Western New York Flash.

Independence head coach Paul Riley has called Buczkowski "the best pure defensive midfielder in the league," and she wants to return to Philadelphia for a third straight year in 2012.

"I have not officially signed, but I have talked to Paul and [owner/CEO] David [Halstead]," Buczkowski said. "Many people have not signed, but maybe in the next week or two you'll see a lot more signings. But the plan is to stay in Philadelphia."

Read more at EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select alumni Bock, Buczkowski playing for L.A. Vikings

Brittany Bock

Our Game Magazine took the time to interview L.A. Vikings President and head coach Robert Kleinberger. This winter the team has incorporated a heavily Women's Professional Soccer-based roster to face the U.S., Canadian and Mexican national teams.

Former Eclipse Select Soccer Club players Brittany Bock (Western New York Flash) and Jen Buczkowski (WPS free agent, played for Philadelphia Independence in 2010 and 2011) are on the squad.

Read about how this came together at OurGameMagazine.com.

Buczkowski named to WPS's Best XI

Jen Buczkowski (right) -- Getty Images

Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and Philadelphia Independence midfielder Jen Buczkowski was named to WPS's Best XI of 2011. The Elk Grove Village, Ill., native and Notre Dame product started and played in 18 regular-season matches for Philadelphia, and capped off her 2011 season with an appearance in the WPS Championship against the title-winning Western New York Flash.

Read more at WomensProSoccer.com.