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Spanish flair headed to WNY Flash

UPDATED 3/26/12 at 11:45 a.m.

Most of the focus this weekend has been on Canada and Brazil for their high profile friendly on Saturday, but a Spanish international could soon make a splash in the headlines.

A reliable source tells me that the Western New York Flash have agreed to terms with a Spanish international for the upcoming 2012 WPSL Elite League season. No confirmation yet on who specifically, but the likely candidates are 2011 WPS league MVP Veronica Boquete — better known as “Vero” — or striker Adriana.

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UPDATE: To be clear, the only guarantee I have is that a Spanish international is joining the Flash. My hunch was Vero on some sort of deal that works around her Tyreso contract, but I wouldn’t rule out Adriana. As I’ve been reminded, Adriana did sign with the Flash in December, when WPS was still planning on playing. But again, I’m waiting on confirmation on who the player is.

Boquete was public about the fact that she could have made more money by signing with the Flash in 2011, but she decided that she wanted to play for Philadelphia.

The two other sought-after Spanish internationals of interest are Laura del Rio, who has experience with the Boston Breakers and Philadelphia Independence, among others, and former Sky Blue FC striker Adriana. Those could be possibilities as well.

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But Boquete’s former connection to the Flash and the fact that team management has been keen on bringing her back to Western New York makes last year’s league MVP an obvious candidate.

Boquete helped the Flash – then the Buffalo Flash – earn the 2010 USL W-League title, claiming championship game MVP honors with two goals in a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps. That game, broadcast on Fox Soccer, was the first glimpse most Americans had at Boquete. It was one heck of a first impression.

Yes, she is currently playing with Tyreso in Sweden, but remember how Paul Riley was insistent throughout the offseason that Boquete would return to the Philadelphia on some type of loan deal in 2012? My guess is that something similar could happen in Rochester. Time should (soon) tell. Whether or not it is Boquete headed to Rochester remains to be seen, but given the reliable tip that one of Spain’s elite has signed there and Boquete’s connection to the team….well, you get it.

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Adriana also has the whole signed-with-the-Flash-while-WPS-still-existed-only-to-see-the-league-hault connection, too, so we’ll see.

OTHER NEWS FROM THE WEEKEND:

Canada defeated Brazil 2-1 thanks to two goals from Christine Sinclair

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Karina LeBlanc earned her 100th cap for Canada in that match

Never heard of Brazil’s goalscorer? Get to know Gabriela Zanotti Demoner

New York Fury is now a part of WPSL Elite League as Aztec MA withdraws from the league

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Kristine Lilly is now an assistant coach with the Boston Breakers

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