RELEASE – The VSI Tampa Bay FC W-League team has added the help of Portugal National team midfielder Andrea “A-Rod” Rodrigues, pending USSF approval.
While in college, Rodrigues discovered her Brazilian and Portuguese roots by participating in National team camps in 2009 and 2010 with the U‐19 and U‐20 Brazilian National team while they prepared for the South America U‐20 Tournament and in 2010 for the U‐20 World Cup Tournament in Germany.
Then, in June of 2010, at 20 years old, Rodrigues made her international debut in a 1-‐0 win over Slovenia. For the past three years, senior midfielder Andrea Rodrigues was a starter for both the Knights and the Portuguese National Team. While participating in international competition for the Portuguese National Team, Rodrigues also played an important role in the University of Central Florida women’s soccer team — a program fresh off a run to the Elite Eight in last season’s NCAA Tournament.
The talented footballer balanced the two commitments well. Rodrigues excelled athletically and academically as one of UCF’s student-‐athletes who placed on the 2011-‐2012 Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll. In February of 2011 Rodrigues scored two goals and had one assist in a Union of European Football Associations qualifying match against Armenia for Portugal, a 6‐0 win.
Rodrigues was named Portugal’s top scorer in the 2013 Euro qualifiers with 4 goals. She has also been a key contributor for UCF — starting career‐high 19 matches for the Knights in the 2011 season while scoring a goal and tallying three assists.
After her time with the Knights, Rodrigues was invited to preseason with the Boston Breakers of the National Women’s Soccer League. She was rostered for preseason matches against Boston College and Sky Blue FC in March.
A‐Rod and the rest of the VSI Tampa Bay FC W‐League team will be playing at the Plant City Stadium on Friday, May 17 at 7 p.m.